How Zimbabwe’s Ruling Elite Redefined Loyalty for Power – Eduzim News

By Shelton Muchena and Desmond Nleya| There are nations where patriotism is lived quietly in the dignity of honest work, in the strength of institutions, and in the shared hope of a better tomorrow. And then there are nations where patriotism is performed loudly, claimed by the powerful, and weaponised against the very citizens it ought to unite. Zimbabwe stands, uneasily and unmistakably, in the latter.

For decades, the ruling party, ZANU-PF, has positioned itself as the sole custodian of national loyalty. Its message has been relentless and clear: to support the party is to love Zimbabwe; to question it is to betray the nation. It is a narrative repeated in rallies, reinforced in institutions, and embedded in political culture. Yet beneath this carefully curated image lies a growing and undeniable contradiction one that challenges the very meaning of patriotism itself.

What if the loudest declarations of patriotism are, in fact, its greatest distortion?

True patriotism is not theatre. It is not measured in slogans, nor in unwavering allegiance to individuals. It is found in the protection of democratic principles, in respect for the constitution, and in a genuine commitment to the welfare of citizens. It requires integrity, accountability, and, above all, the courage to confront uncomfortable truths.

That courage, however, has become increasingly rare.

In today’s Zimbabwe, loyalty has been elevated above responsibility. Grand visions are proclaimed among them the much-publicised “2030 agenda” while the lived reality for millions tells a starkly different story. Inflation erodes livelihoods. Unemployment stifles ambition. Public services, from healthcare to education, strain under the weight of neglect. Hospitals operate without essential medicines. Schools persevere with limited resources. A generation of young people finds itself mobilised for political display rather than empowered for economic participation.

Is this what patriotism looks like?

Is it patriotic to extend political power at the expense of democratic renewal? Is it patriotic to reward allegiance with privilege while ordinary citizens struggle for basic necessities? Is it patriotic to silence dissent through intimidation, arrests, or restrictive legislation?

Or is it something far more troubling a quiet betrayal dressed in the language of loyalty?

A nation is not weakened by scrutiny; it is weakened by fear. True patriots do not shy away from criticism they welcome it as a necessary force for progress. To question leadership is not to undermine a country; it is to demand that it lives up to its promise. Yet in Zimbabwe, dissent is too often recast as disloyalty, and alternative voices are treated as threats rather than contributions.

In such an environment, patriotism is stripped of its moral essence and repurposed as an instrument of control.

There is also an inescapable ethical dimension to this crisis. Patriotism is not merely a political posture; it is a moral responsibility. It asks whether those in power serve the people or themselves. It asks whether leadership is exercised with humility or preserved through entitlement.

Can it be called patriotic to preside over economic hardship while maintaining political dominance? Can it be patriotic to prioritise survival in office over national recovery? Can it be patriotic to equate criticism with betrayal rather than recognising it as a call for improvement?

These are not abstract questions. They define the lived experience of millions.

And yet, Zimbabwe’s greatest strength lies not in its political elite, but in its people. Despite adversity, they endure. They work, they adapt, and they continue to believe in the possibility of a better future. Their resilience, not political rhetoric, is the truest expression of patriotism.

Which brings the nation to a defining moment.

Who, in Zimbabwe today, are the real patriots?

Those who defend power without question, or those who demand accountability? Those who silence dissent, or those who speak in pursuit of justice? Those who cling to the present order, or those who dare to imagine a different future?

History will, in time, render its judgement. But the present demands clarity. Patriotism must be reclaimed not as a slogan, but as a principle. Not as a tool of power, but as a commitment to the people.

For in the end, love of country is not proven by loyalty to a party. It is proven by loyalty to its people, its values, and its future a future that cannot be built on silence, fear, or unquestioning allegiance, but on truth, accountability, and the courage to change.

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