ZANU PF leaders and supporters are the most unpatriotic citizens

By Desmond Nleya
In Zimbabwe, the word patriotism has long been claimed, defined, and weaponized by the ruling party, ZANU-PF.
For decades, loyalty to the party has been equated with loyalty to the nation itself. But a deeper and more uncomfortable question lingers beneath the slogans and political rhetoric: who is truly patriotic, and who is not?
Patriotism, in its purest form, should mean love for one’s country, its people, and its future. It should involve protecting national institutions, upholding the constitution, and ensuring the well-being of citizens. Yet in Zimbabwe’s current political climate, the definition appears inverted, raising serious concerns about what patriotism has come to represent.
Is it patriotic to support the extension of political power for individuals at the expense of democratic renewal?
Is it patriotic to push narratives such as the “2030 agenda” while millions struggle with unemployment, inflation, and deteriorating public services?
Is it patriotic to silence dissenting voices through arrests, intimidation, or restrictive laws?
Is it patriotic to reward political loyalty with luxury vehicles and privileges while hospitals lack basic equipment and medicines?
These are not merely rhetorical questions. They strike at the heart of Zimbabwe’s governance crisis.
When citizens are discouraged from questioning leadership, does that strengthen the nation or weaken it?
When the constitution is altered or ignored to maintain political control, is that an act of national pride or national betrayal?
When young people are mobilized to chant slogans rather than empowered with education and economic opportunity, what future is being built?
True patriotism should demand accountability, not blind allegiance.
There is also a moral dimension that cannot be ignored. A government that presides over economic hardship, a collapsing healthcare system, and rising inequality must confront a difficult truth. Patriotism cannot be measured by how loudly one supports a ruling party, but by how effectively one serves the people.
Is it patriotic to remain in power while citizens suffer?
Is it patriotic to prioritize political survival over national recovery?
Is it patriotic to equate criticism with betrayal instead of seeing it as a call for improvement?
The answers to these questions are not simple, but they are necessary.