National Pledge gets mixed response

THERE was a mixed response on the inaugural National Pledge recital yesterday with government schools reciting it while most private schools did not embrace it. At government schools, some parents brought presents for their children as recommended by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. In Bulawayo, pupils at government and council schools recited the pledge.

At Baines Primary School less than 20 parents turned up with most saying they could not afford to buy presents. At Mckeurtan Primary School pupils by 7AM had gathered at the assembly point to recite the National Pledge, which the government says will foster national pride and patriotism.

Parents who were part of the gathering cheered their children as they went through their recitals before presenting them with gifts. At Newmansford Primary in Queens Park West, pupils recited the pledge one-by-one although there were no presents from the parents.

At Bulawayo Adventist High School, the pledge was not recited. Parents dropped off their children who went straight to their classrooms. In Gwanda, mostly government schools complied with the ministry's directive to recite the pledge although some parents delayed taking their children to school so that they do not participate.

St Christopher Primary School, Gwanda High School, Gwanda Government School, Jahunda Primary School and Mt Cazalet Primary School are among the schools that recited the National Pledge.

A parent with a child at St Christopher Primary School, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he found nothing amiss with his child reciting the pledge. "It's derived from our Constitution which is the Supreme law of the land," he said.

In Gweru, there was no recital of the pledge at private schools. Private schools such as Midlands Christian College (MCC), Anderson Adventist School as well as private colleges did not recite the pledge. At the Catholic-run Regina Mundi Girls High, girls proudly recited the pledge after the national anthem as a few parents and teachers watched.

In Victoria Falls, while most schools recited the national pledge, those at Mkhosana Seventh Day Adventist did not.

Their counterparts at the Catholic-run St Josephine Bhakitha in the same suburb, Chamabondo, Chinotimba and Mosi-oa-Tunya High School together with private schools such as Dadani College and Lulu Educational Academy recited the pledge.

In Masvingo, all government schools took heed of the government directive. Parents did not turn up at most schools but the pledge was recited at Hellen McGhie Primary School, Victoria Junior, Mucheke High, Ndarama High, Runyararo Primary, Dikwindi, Rujeko, Shakashe Primary Schools, Masvingo Secondary and Primary and Victoria High School.

The pledge is contained in the new curriculum framework adopted by Cabinet on September 22 last year. Infant pupils are reciting the following pledge of allegiance: "Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag, I commit to honesty and dignity of hard work."

For junior and secondary schools, the pledge says: "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 the Chimurenga/ Umvukela and national liberation struggles.

"We are proud inheritors of the richness of our natural resources. We are proud creators and participants in our vibrant traditions and cultures. We commit to honesty and the dignity of hard work".

David Hofisi of the ZLHR, on behalf of a Harare man (name withheld for professional reasons), is contesting the constitutionality of the requirement. The National Pledge, according to the father of three school-going children who is behind the challenge, is unconstitutional and against his religious beliefs.

He does not want his children to recite the pledge. The man, who is a member of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM), argued that the National Pledge is a prayer which exalts various secular phenomena including the national flag, mothers and fathers who lost their lives in the liberation struggle.

This, he said, is not his understanding of prayer shared by his faith, which reserved worship to God alone. He contends that the National Pledge is offensive to his religious convictions and thus befouls various sections of the supreme law of the country. The Constitutional Court is expected to hear arguments on the matter before the end of June.