Goodness means doing what is right, even when ungrateful people try to pull you down. We are all made in God’s image, endowed with a natural capacity for good. Yet while some are seen as good, others are not, based on their character levels. To truly understand this, we must examine root causes rather than let ignorance guide our actions. What we perceive as wrong in the world often mirrors the flaws within ourselves.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV).
The world’s imperfections make everyone vulnerable to bad influences and difficult circumstances. Society is a mix of strong and weak personalities. The more a place is filled with weaker characters, the more challenges it tends to face. Strong personalities can have both positive and negative effects—some inspire and uplift, while others spread negativity that weaker characters absorb, dragging everyone down.
A child with a weaker character might flourish with ethical parents but could just as easily be led astray by a poor role model. True character is not merely shaped by environment; it is about staying authentic regardless of external circumstances. A rigid, authoritarian environment does not necessarily give hope to a nation. It is more important to let children grow into strong characters than to control them into becoming what they are not meant to be. Strong characters influence their surroundings—for better or worse—while weaker ones are easily molded by the world around them.
Strong characters do not follow trends simply because others do, whether right or wrong. In schools, disruptive students with strong character can spread negativity and harm the school’s reputation, while students with strong but good character can inspire positive change and uplift the community. These are the realities shaping our world.
Punishment is often the default response to misbehaving children, but it overlooks their mental and emotional needs. Without clear communication about what they did wrong, bad behavior cannot truly be addressed. A child might follow school rules out of fear, yet continue those habits when no one is watching. Teachers cannot supervise students at all times, especially in private moments. This strict, authoritarian approach in schools, assumed to instill good behavior, is partly why society ends up with criminals.
When children push back against strict, authoritarian teachers, they can quickly become heroes in the eyes of their classmates, often encouraging further misbehavior. These “rebels” are not admired for true courage, but for challenging a system that ignores student voices—a mindset that blocks positive change in schools and beyond.
Still, strong-willed rebels can steer a school toward better outcomes if they inspire constructive change. Even rule‑following students can lose faith in a system that lacks clear communication and fair, reasonable rules. What matters most is building strong character, not siding with the weak, mistaken for being “good.”
The real problem arises when bad behavior is rewarded and good behavior punished—this only breeds more trouble. Most people naturally resist punishment, and corporal punishment can damage trust between teachers and students. Too often, teachers rely solely on discipline to shape character, forgetting that children respond much better to empathy and understanding.
The state of poor countries today reveals the flaws of an authoritarian school system that believes punishment can positively shape children. Reforming such institutions feels hopeless because those in charge are also products of this broken system, unable to judge whether it creates anything truly valuable.
In Zimbabwe’s forty‑six years of independence, nearly every child has had access to education, yet the real results are hard to see. Someone born in the 80s is now over forty. I remember how, after independence, many parents worked hard to send their children to well‑resourced, formerly white‑only “A‑Schools.” But where are these well‑educated people now, as Zimbabwe struggles?
The answer points to the presence of weaker characters in the environment, rather than strong ones guided by instinct and untouched by outside influence. The weak characters aren’t even shameful; they’re just the result of a poor school system. What we truly need are people of strong character—people ready to face challenges, not quick to blame authorities or others, but willing to take responsibility themselves.
Today, the country is led by those past retirement age. Isn’t it partly the fault of the educated for failing to take responsibility for fixing their own problems? Many young people choose to apply their skills in already developed countries, losing faith in their homeland and allowing senior leaders to remain in power for far too long—a sign of weak character, where true strength is often mistaken for troublemaking.
The blame lies squarely with the school system, which operates on the belief that good graduates are produced through punishment. As a result, many forty‑year‑olds feel it is overwhelming to question those over seventy on matters of governance. This authoritarian approach breeds fear, leaving most unable to challenge the dictatorship—despite the presence of the Chamisa factor.
As the most prominent opposition leader, Chamisa seems almost born to stand out, yet what truly sets him apart is simply his remarkable strength of character. Many with weaker resolve seem to find comfort in blaming him for their own shortcomings, as though they had handed over control of their lives to him. It is as if they want to turn him into some kind of a god, when in reality he is just another person—one who shows the value of having a strong character. Instead of pointing fingers, it is better to stand up and embody true strength.
Instead, some choose to endure mistreatment in countries like Australia, Canada, the USA, and elsewhere, rather than face the problems in Zimbabwe. Ironically, these wealthy nations have often gained their riches through exploiting such weaker characters from corrupt countries like Zimbabwe. Another troubling factor is that in Zimbabwe, mineral resources are valued more highly than people—a dangerous misconception that must be addressed urgently. No country’s resources should outweigh the worth of its citizens.
I remember how deeply disheartened I was to learn about the people of Chiyadzwa being relocated without compensation for mining by the Chinese, and even reports of some being killed in the chaos over diamonds. Those stones were deemed more valuable than human lives. How irrational is it to prize inanimate objects over people? At the time, blame fell on Robert Mugabe—but under whose authority did he rule? Ultimately, it was the very people deemed worthless who had voted him into power in large numbers. There can be no doubt that the most contemptible people in this world are the weak characters.
Despite coming from diamond‑rich regions, many bright young people left to seek work in Western countries, unaware that these so‑called rich nations sustain their wealth on looted African diamonds. Yet blame still lingers on Mugabe, even long after his death. In Chiyadzwa, youths are used as foot soldiers for Mnangagwa’s blatantly corrupt system.
Some still call themselves “youths” at forty, with the term G40 carrying a stigma in Zanu PF to discourage older youths from recognizing their own worth. This mindset stems from a punishment‑driven education system that forces naïve young people into submission. Still, there is a faint glimmer of hope from a handful of brave young individuals willing to challenge the corrupt system. It’s hard not to admire young people like Ostallos Siziba, who might even be envied or idolized by those unable to challenge their own state of weakness in character.
For most, the fear of punishment makes resistance feel impossible. The hope remains with the few strong-willed characters to carry the torch for the future. Over time, some of the once‑courageous have been silenced, finding the cost of integrity too high. Like the people of Chiyadzwa, many see themselves as worth less than the diamonds beneath their feet. Yet ordinary people should never be valued less than a country’s natural resources.
This is not about resorting to armed struggle to reclaim dignity. Believing violence can fix a corrupt system is misguided, and the state of so‑called war heroes proves it. Real wisdom starts with seeing that the authoritarian school system is just as damaging as the problems in our country today. Authoritarian systems often arise from a lack of character in children, reflecting the influence of parents who also display weak character.
Teachers should realize that children, made in the image of God, deserve to be heard more than commanded to listen. When children act out, it is often because they have never been given the chance to speak. The system silences their voices, teaching them to obey instead of question, as if authority is always right. This mindset spills into parenting, where parents rarely listen to their children.
Many older people think age equals wisdom, but their actions often reveal self‑interest and irresponsibility. Sadly, some uneducated youths still admire such elders, calling themselves revolutionaries while holding on to outdated, harmful ideas. Young people need space to speak, think, and reason—and without that, the country’s hope rests only with a few determined youth to challenge this broken system.
The future of any country rests in the hands of its young people. These youths should focus on doing what is right, regardless of punishment. True heroes do not seek sympathy; they find purpose in standing up for justice, even in the toughest situations. They are ready to risk their lives for the right cause, knowing that sacrificing for good is one of life’s greatest honors. Such young people constantly strive to become the champions and heroes of tomorrow.
A country’s geography is not its defining feature—its people are. Independence only has meaning when it comes with responsibility, and that means having the courage to face what is wrong. A nation’s greatness is not measured by its natural resources, but by the responsibility and selflessness of its citizens, who are willing to give more than they take.
A person’s true worth lies in how much they contribute, not in what they receive. Everyone should feel proud when they can honestly say their existence has benefited others more than it has served themselves. This is a core principle of life. Zimbabwe’s struggles are not just about a few leaders in power—those leaders rose to their positions because the majority failed to take responsibility. This suggests that when individuals are less effective at promoting either positive or negative influence, the country tends to face more problems.
The difference between weak and strong characters often stands out in any setting. In environments where blame is common, problems tend to grow. Weak characters shy away from responsibility and quickly idolize strong figures, whether good or bad. They are often quick to accuse others, especially leaders whose rise to power they may have even supported. It’s hard to believe anyone could convince such fragile individuals that they’re entirely incapable, driven only by cowardice rooted in selfishness.
Poor leadership often stems from strong but bad personalities who use their influence to take advantage of the weak. What is really needed are good, but strong characters who outnumber those with harmful intentions, as the weak will naturally follow their lead. Ideally, these role models would come from Christian communities where the gospel is taught faithfully. While the weak characters see Christianity as a path towards receiving blessings, at its heart, Christianity is about sacrifice, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
Life becomes meaningful when we dedicate ourselves to doing something valuable for others. It is about what we give, not what we get—a trait all true luminaries share. Right now, Zimbabwe needs more young people with this spirit, not those leaving for Europe and abandoning a homeland as beautiful as Zimbabwe. The lack of selfless individuals willing to take on tough challenges is what has left the country in its current state, rather than the blamed poor government leadership, which stems from the prevalence of weaker characters in our environment.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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