Restore the Zimbabwean Cultural Identity: A Call to National Consciousness

 

Restore the Zimbabwean Cultural Identity: A Call to National Consciousness

A nation bereft of its culture is a nation adrift, rudderless in the tides of globalisation and moral decay. Culture is not merely a collection of customs and traditions; it is the soul of a people, the embodiment of their values, their dress, their communal bonds, and the moral compass that guides their conduct. In Zimbabwe, this cultural essence Ubuntu, once defined our collective identity. Today, it stands perilously eroded.

Who bears the solemn duty of cultural stewardship?

It is universally acknowledged that culture evolves, shaped by time and circumstance. Yet, its foundational values must remain sacrosanct. The Government of Zimbabwe, led by ZANU PF since independence in 1980, holds a constitutional and moral obligation to safeguard our national heritage. Through legislation, policy, and education, it must preserve the cultural fabric that binds us.

However, this duty has been gravely neglected.

In the early 2000s, Zimbabwe was still largely a society of peace and communal harmony. Violent crime was rare, and the notion of ritual killings or rampant armed robbery was alien to our way of life. Fast forward to 2025, and the nation is gripped by a crisis of morality and security. According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), over 3,000 cases of armed robbery were reported in 2024 alone—a staggering increase from fewer than 500 cases two decades prior.

This degeneration is symptomatic of a deeper malaise: the collapse of trust in public institutions. Even senior figures within ZANU PF reportedly avoid banking their wealth, a damning indictment of the country’s fiscal and monetary policy. The informalisation of the economy has led to widespread cash hoarding, making homes easy targets for criminals. The economic disparity is stark, while civil servants earn less than ZWL$150,000 per month (barely US$30 at parallel market rates), political elites flaunt luxury vehicles and foreign currency with impunity.

The cultural decay is not limited to economics.

The proliferation of pseudo-religious movements, often steeped in foreign ritualism and juju practices, has been tacitly endorsed by a desperate and compromised political class. These movements exploit the vulnerable, eroding traditional values and turning children into pawns in a game of spiritual manipulation. The government’s failure to regulate these entities has further undermined societal cohesion.

Zimbabwe now ranks 158th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (2024), placing it among the most corrupt nations globally. Under President Mugabe, corruption was veiled; under President Mnangagwa, it has become institutionalised. The rise of “tenderpreneurs” and politically connected money launderers has normalised graft, while public servants languish in poverty.

If this trajectory continues, Zimbabwe risks becoming the Haiti of Africa, a nation rich in history but crippled by systemic failure.

We must act.

The restoration of Zimbabwean culture is not a nostalgic yearning, it is a national imperative. We must reclaim our values, reassert our identity, and demand accountability from those entrusted with our future. Let us revive Ubuntu, not as a slogan, but as a lived reality.

Bring back the Zimbabwean culture. Let it be the cornerstone of our renaissance.