Reclaiming our nationhood: Unity, Freedom, Work

For the past year or so I had been mulling over this motto on a touch-go basis. The recent developments within our nation precipitated by ‪#‎ThisFlag‬ led me to unpack further what I had been thinking over ‪#‎ReclaimingOurNationhood‬ This is a quest along the same lines as Ps Evan which saw the reclaiming of our nation's flag in order to make people aware that the Republic of Zimbabwe (the State) belongs to us its people.

Chapter 1: Part 4 of our Constitution's Founding Provisions states "Zimbabwe has a National Flag, a National Anthem, a Coat of Arms and a Public seal,..." The current coat of arms of Zimbabwe was adopted on 21 September 1981, 1 year and 5 months after the national flag was adopted. Emblazoned on the Coat of Arms is the Zimbabwean national motto; "Unity, Freedom, Work." ‪#‎OurCoatofArms‬

Unity

In such a season the danger is for disunity to creep in because of thinking others are doing more than others. Not everyone is able to hashtag, not everyone is able to be physically present on the ground...but all of us with whatever we are doing we are building our great nation.

There was an episode in the great trek from Egypt to Canaan where the Israelites has to engage in battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). Moses went up on the mountain to lift up the Staff of God, while Joshua was leading the army's battle in the valley. v11: "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

Whenever Moses' hands were dropping, the enemy would start getting the upper hand on the army. Being human, Moses at some stage grew tired. v12: "When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset." At the end of the battle, Moses established an altar for the Lord and named it The LORD is My Banner- ‘Jehovah Nissi.’

Throughout this episode we see the following; there was a battle to be fought, there was need for people to be on the ground fighting, there was need for a leader of those people on the ground, there was need for someone to be on the mountain seeking God's help, there was need for a structure to support the one on the mountain (stone) and there was need for others to support the one praying.

Combining through different social media platforms one sees a lot of pushing and pulling by people wanting to put across that 'they are doing more than others' or their proposed modus operandi is THE way to go. What people tend to not realise is that just like with the battle with the Amalekites, everyone has a role to play.

When Ps Evan was being tried in Court he had legal representation which was on the frontlines (Joshua and the army), there were many people in the court room the likes of Bishop Tudor Bismarck, Ps Shingi Munyeza, DrPatson Dzamara; others outside the court house and all over the world who were on the mountain seeking God's intervention. The victory which obtained came about because both sides did their part. Unity is what has brought us here and unity is what will take us into the Destiny God has set for us as a nation.

"We shall not be divided by the politics of our country, We will now be united by the dreams of our children." -Pastor Evan Mawarire.

Freedom

Freedom is defined as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants." The Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as the quality or state of being free as the absence of necessity, coercion or restrain in choice or action. The preamble to our Constitution reads;

We the people of Zimbabwe, United in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism, racism and all forms of domination and oppression, Exalting and extolling the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Chimurenga / Umvukela and national liberation struggles, Honouring our forebears and compatriots who toiled for the progress of our country, Recognising the need to entrench democracy, good, transparent and accountable governance and the rule of law, Reaffirming our commitment to upholding and defending fundamental human rights and freedoms, Acknowledging the richness of our natural resources,

Celebrating the vibrancy of our traditions and cultures, Determined to overcome all challenges and obstacles that impede our progress, Cherishing freedom, equality, peace, justice, tolerance, prosperity and patriotism in search of new frontiers under a common destiny, Acknowledging the supremacy of Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, Resolve by the tenets of this Constitution to commit ourselves to build a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honesty and the dignity of hard work, And, imploring the guidance and support of Almighty God, hereby make this Constitution and commit ourselves to it as the fundamental law of our beloved land.

The chapter then goes on to list the rights which every Zimbabwean is entitled to;
• Right to life
• Right to personal liberty
• Rights of arrested and detained persons
• Right to human dignity
• Right to personal security
• Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Freedom from forced or compulsory labour
• Freedom from slavery or servitude
• Equality and non-discrimination
• Right to privacy
• Freedom of assembly and association
• Freedom to demonstrate and petition
• Freedom of conscience
• Freedom of expression and freedom of the media
• Access to information
• Language and culture
• Freedom of profession, trade or occupation
• Labour rights
• Freedom of movement and residence
• Political rights
• Right to administrative justice
• Right to a fair hearing
• Rights of accused persons
• Property rights
• Rights to agricultural land
• Environmental rights
• Freedom from arbitrary eviction
• Right to health care
• Right to food and water
• Marriage rights

As we build our nation let us not forget these freedoms which are enshrined in our Constitution.

Work

In Nehemiah 3:1-32 we see the rebuilding of the wall in sections. In Masvingo we have the Great Zimbabwe Ruins from which our nation derives its name. I personally call our motherland Zimbabwe the Great.

We are all have a role to play in the rebuilding of our nation. As with the people in Nehemiah Ch3 we each have sections of 'the wall' we are supposed to work on. For some their section is Governance like Ps Evan Mawarire, for some it's Justice Ps Paul Kaseke Snr, some Finance like DrLance Mambondiani, others Telecoms like Dr Strive Masiyiwa, Business Ps Shingi Munyeza, Education Constance Chitekwe Zingoni, Economic Development Flora Kurasha, Monetary Policy matters like myself Tatenda S Zingoni, Education etc.

Whatever role you will play i.e.planning on how the wall should, moulding bricks, passing bricks, mixing the mortar, laying the bricks, plastering the wall etc... the wall will get built.

Just as Apostle Paul spoke of him planting and Apollos watering...it was ultimately God who gave the increase. In all we embark on doing as a nation let us take heed not to depart from what has brought us thus far- God's presence. Psalm 127:1 says "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Zimbabwe Constitution:  http://www.zhrc.org.zw/index.php/zhrc-documents/legal-framework/1-constitution-of-zimbabwe-amendment-no-20-act-2013/file