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Bridget Mavhimira
Features Writer

Patriotism is like the love or loyalty a parent has for a child or that loyalty best friends have.

Such love and loyalty goes beyond filial bonds and thus it is not easily definable, but is easily discernible.

For starters would one ever go around a neighbourhood telling people that his or her mother or father is bad or embarrassing?

This can only happen if that person is soft in the head, as is unfortunately exhibited without shame by a band of unpatriotic Zimbabweans on social media platforms.

Donning anti-Zimbabwe gowns, all the while toadying to the whims and caprices of foreign nations, some Zimbabweans advocated for the imposition of sanctions on the country at the turn of the millennium simply because the Zanu PF government had redressed colonial land iniquity.

Such unpatriotic Zimbabweans fill their pockets with trinkets from Western nations, living it up.

Do the Western puppets ever consider the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans who have to groan under the painful yoke of illegal economic sanctions that have cost the country of over US$100 billion, according to the United Nations, in the processes suffocating social services?

Isn’t it trite that when a father is punished, or let us say imprisoned, it is his children who suffer? When parents die children become orphans, and the pain of growing up parentless is just unbearable.

Now, the question is, why then are fellow Zimbabweans supporting the crucifixion of our motherland Zimbabwe?

An example will suffice.

My mother always tells me never to gossip with other people.

I always gossip only with her because there is no way she will spread my “gossip”.

The same goes for me because that would mean putting both of us in danger or in a spot of potential ridicule.

To quote the national pledge briefly, in case some might have forgotten what the commitment is:

“Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag.

United in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality.

Respecting the brave fathers and mothers who lost lives in theChimurenga/Umvukela and national liberation struggles.

We are proud inheritors of our national resources. We are proud creators of and participants in our vibrant traditions and cultures. We commit honesty and the dignity of hard work”.

Therefore, patriotism has nothing to do with politics, but that is a story for another day.

Many Zimbabweans love their country. However, there is a difference between loving one’s country and being patriotic.

You cannot love your country without being devoted to it.

Love is not enough, rather to be a patriot one needs love and devotion. That will then give passion which inspires one to serve.

The national pledge says “united in our diversity’’. It acknowledges that we are different but still have to be united.

The common desire is to prosper, have good sanitation and achieve all the good things that we admire in other countries.

Now the problem with a lot of us is we just expect these things to happen without putting in the work.

Sometimes we do not realise how much we are publishing to the world the gossip we would have had with our mother Zimbabwe.

Social media has become a culture and we do not even care how much damage we are causing to our motherland.

We are the same people who drop litter everywhere, then go on to take and post pictures hash-tagging how Zimbabwe has become dirty.

Instead of using social media to clear our mother’s name, we are adding more salt to her wounds by exposing her.

Look at how Donald Trump was removed from Twitter due to unpatriotic behaviour.

Do you think its all roses in those countries we admire? They have understood the concept of defending and supporting their own.

Next door South Africa, their music is now highly rated because they have understood the aspect of supporting their own.

There is a Shona proverb which says “Chakafukidza dzimba matenga”.

When one quarrels with a spouse or family member does one vent out in public?

That would be primitive right?

Just because you go about saying the bad that happens in your home does not make you gain favour from the outsiders.

Rather, they laugh and despised you because you do not have loyalty. How will they trust you with their secrets?

The thing about being a devoted and passionate citizen is one must be eager to correct the wrong, must stand by the country in wins and losses.

My ringing tone is the Zimbabwean national anthem and my phone pouch has a picture of the national flag.

Does that mean I am a patriot? Not really.

This is just me loving the colours and song of my country, which is a particle of being patriotic.

Being patriotic involves really small actions, yet they make a big difference. Placing litter in bins, investing in local businesses, adhering to the law are examples.

April 18 is a holiday which marks independence from the British on this day in 1980 and is the National Day for Zimbabwe.

To most of us, this day just passes like a fog and it means nothing anymore. How then do you still call yourself Zimbabwean?

I admire how Americans celebrate their independence day, July 4.

On this day you do not see political opponents neither does one see people of different tribes.

You see one people, one country, one America.

Americans practise what is known as covenanted patriotism, which is characterised by a commitment to the principles and goals set out in the founding covenant and duty to carry on the work of the founding fathers.

Dear Zimbabwe, are we aware of the goals set out when we gained independence and what have we done about that?

Fellow Zimbabweans, our country is more than just politics. It is the beauty of the legendary Victoria Falls, the Nyanga mountains and all the scenic national parks.

Being patriotic is choosing your country’s peace, unity and tranquillity. It is having pride in one’s country and always looking for a reason to stay or come back home.

One could decide to show it or not but remember patriotism should be seen though actions as we commit honesty and dignity to hard work.