Nationalism Should Never Be Confused With Patriotism

Correspondent | Monday September 5, 2016 16:11

Nationalism is loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests. We used nationalism to achieve this supremacy of nation building. A good example is when we gained independence in 1966 all of us shared a common vision and our objectives were very clear for all to understand that was to do away with our tribal identity and occupy a common platform that will deliver numerous opportunities to all our citizens in a fair, honest and transparent manner. This process will never be shaken by anything as it is solid like a rock. We would like to examine the argument from some of our compatriots who have refused to move from this principle of nationalism as they feel by embracing patriotism is as good as allowing the official looting of our resources. We need to take stock as a nation and honestly we are far away from nationalism which was the bedrock of this nation.

Patriotism is an emotional attachment to a nation which an individual recognises as their country. This attachment, also known as national feeling or national pride, can be viewed in terms of different features relating to one’s own nation, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects. The modern times has shown us that patriotism can be used as a carrot to advance individual interest at the expense of the majority of the citizens. Some people only show patriotism because of benefits due to them. The question we are asking the nation is the blue, black and white colours more embodied in nationalism or patriotism?

 

Retail Reservation Policy for Citizens

The retail reservation policy for citizens is a good move if it is implemented correctly. The 51% shareholding is not realistic for many citizens as some of these companies are worth billions. To offer a more realistic solution would be to use the retail occupancy ratio like percentages; if goods are produced locally; they should have higher percentage floor occupancy. The textile, furniture, plastic related products and horticulture are key industries that can generate thousand opportunities. We have skilled manpower to produce our own clothing, furniture, plastic related products and vegetables. The formula stated above is more affordable because it substitute foreign imports or products with local products and the benefits will be to create more jobs and opportunities local.

 

Wealth Creation Summit

As Opposed To Job Summit

Wealth creation summit is the key vocabulary to use for a simple reason that when you invite wealth miners to strategise and execute it is an acceleration of work already in progress and some delivery processes will be as early as the next day. As a nation we need to dawn on this reality if at all we want to tackle unemployment and poverty that has engulfed this country. Wealth Miners already know all the opportunities and possibilities and what to do; the only catalyst should be the enabling environment. One example will be SMMES; if asked to create employment each month and you give them enablers this country will be having hundreds and hundreds of employment and wealth creation opportunities every month. This is possible if we invite the right people to the table. At that level you don’t deal much with policy issues the key words is implementation and profit. Job summit is a full house with many topics to debate this leaves very little time to deliver on time solution to unemployment and wealth creation opportunities. Most speakers at the job summit are scholars, HR specialists, policy makers etc, and some of them may not be in business of creating employment and wealth creation opportunities. Job summit also raises expectations from the unemployed that the responsibility of making it in life rest with somebody and your effort doesn’t count much we need to teach the unemployed the opposite so that they become wealth creators.

Finally for the last 50 years our country has achieved the economic success to be classified as a middle income country. Does this status speak to you if not why are you not taking your responsibilities seriously as this mark the departure of the gravy train least you will be left for good.

 

Thanks, Gibson Matenge

Billionaire Consortium