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IT is a truism that human beings are every nation’s biggest asset. That is why nations protect and invest so much in their people; so that there is development and continuity. Issues of politics and political affiliation are made much later.

It is this vein that we read President Mugabe’s appeal this week in Ethiopia for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to play their part towards the country’s economic turnaround. He said people should look beyond their party affiliations and national well-being first.

Unlike a number of other African states, Zimbabwe has enjoyed relative peace for a long time. It is one country where violent crime is low, where the safety of tourists is almost guaranteed. But the nation has failed to capitalise on these advantages to spur development, hence the President’s appeal.

That takes us to the core of the economic malaise. Zimbabwe’s fight to reclaim its land through the fast-track route in 2000 completely polarised the political landscape between Zanu-PF and the main opposition MDC. If you were Zanu-PF you were for land reform, if you were MDC then you were against.

That simplistic binary has dominated national politics, with the MDC supporting the imposition of economic sanctions by the United States and its European allies in the name of human and property rights. A number of Zimbabweans used the party card to seek political asylum abroad, claiming they were being persecuted.

Thus unlike other nationalities, even overseas Zimbabweans still identify themselves in terms of party affiliation back home.

It is this bridge which President Mugabe says should be narrowed. We are all Zimbabweans. Parties come and go, and so do governments. But Zimbabwe will always be here. Zimbabwe has values; it has a distinctive history unique to it. It is endowed with a lot of minerals and other natural resources which make it the envy of many potential predators.

What it needs is the collective wisdom and the skills of all its children to develop. Government has over the years invested a lot of money in education. That has given the population diverse skills which are badly sought- after beyond the African continent.

But that investment is currently not being deployed for the benefit of the nation. Political divisions, some of them fuelled by foreign interests, have been allowed to take centre stage. Thus many Zimbabweans in the Diaspora have been engaged in a spirited smear campaign against the country simply because they don’t like the government in power.

Others have feigned persecution where there is none to secure their stay. This has tended to cloud debate on issues of citizenship and voting rights for the Diaspora.

On the other hand, the death of the old economy under the stranglehold of sanctions has created new opportunities for Zimbabweans to invest in the land and small and medium-scale enterprises. Those with foresight are forming consortiums to invest in the new economy which is attracting interest among foreigners in areas such as mining and tourism.

We don’t believe Zimbabweans in the Diaspora want to be left out again so that they return as employees for Chinese or Russian investors.

Another excuse for Zimbabweans in particular and Africans in general turning their backs on their nations has to do with pay levels. It has been argued that African governments don’t pay enough for skills, hence their investment goes to further develop the already developed world.

While this is true, it ignores the practical reality that few African governments can match the salaries paid by Europe and America which already have huge reserves.

African nations on the other hand not only still have to deal with the provision of basic infrastructure and amenities for millions of their people left out of the settler economy, they are also invariably saddled with big debts weighing heavily on the economy.

This calls for oneness of spirit, an appreciation that it is our burden to serve and save our countries. It is the duty of every Zimbabwean in the Diaspora to be their nation’s goodwill ambassador. And you can only be convincing to the foreign investor if you lead by example. Let’s put party politics aside and save the country.