by Gideon Madzikatidze
A disturbing trend has emerged in Zimbabwe’s rural schools, where tattered national flags are flying, or none at all, sparking concerns about the erosion of patriotism and national pride. The sight of torn and faded flags is a stark reminder of the neglect and lack of resources plaguing these institutions.
“The glaring absence of the national flag in the majority of our schools is a stinging symbol of a deeper rot: the systematic betrayal of the liberation promise,” said Obert Masaraure, leader of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ).
Masaraure blamed the government for withholding funding and suffocating schools, leaving them unable to afford basic teaching materials, let alone a new flag.
“In this state of emergency, purchasing a flag is an exercise in futility and a waste of scarce resources,” he said.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has acknowledged the issue, with spokesperson Taungana Ndoro stating that it’s mandatory for schools to hoist a clean and intact national flag.
“The flag is not just a piece of cloth; it is a sacred symbol of our sovereignty, unity, and sacrifices made for our nation,” Ndoro said.
Meanwhile, traditional healer Sekuru Nyangatayani has taken matters into his own hands, donating national flags to schools in Mashonaland Central province. An observation by this publication has witnessed various rural schools in rural areas of Manicaland, Mashonaland East and West, among other provinces have been hoisting torn national flags or completely nothing to show.