Our Values and Principles

Our values and principles which constitute the glue that holds our organisation together, by fostering a culture of ubuntu, oneness, love and equity, serve as a code of ethics and conduct, that all our members are held subject to.

Anyone wishing to become a member of our ZRN community is required to read and understand our values, and if they are agreeable with them, to commit to uphold our organisational and community values and principles before registering as a member. Registering as a member of ZRN is interpreted as endorsement of, and therefore commitment to observe all our values and principles. We deem this necessary to ensure the sustainability of our organisation, whose survival is dependent on our ability to remain united and supporting and building each other up, in order to build a strong, progressive community of Zimbabweans.

Through the enforcement of our values and principles, we aim to reprogram our minds by associating material benefits with behaviours that strengthen and progress our communities. Simultaneously we aim to discourage the self centred mentality where one's personal need for survival supercedes the wellbeing of their community and society. We seek to develop and cement the understanding that belonging to a progressive, prosperous, healthy society offers more assurance of one's survival and well being, than trying to secure one's own survival by destroying one's community or society. This really is the reason why many of us are migrating to more prosperous countries where one's chances of survival and success are higher. But there is no reason why we cannot build our own communities and country into equally progressive and prosperous communities. It is therefore important to seek not only to sustain the communities we are a part of, but also to advance them, because we the members of those communities are the ones who benefit when our communities thrive, and we suffer immeasurably if we destroy them or allow them to be destroyed.

By registering as a member of ZRN one accepts and endorses the below listed values and principles and commits to observe them for the good of our community, as well as to be held subject to the disciplinary measures recommended by our disciplinary committee in the event that one is found in violation of any of the below listed:

• Love for fellow Zimbabweans: Love is the uncompromisable requirement for any community to take shape, let alone sustain itself. Wherever people who have no love for one another are put together, they either fight, compete, or even try to destroy each other. A man and woman can only form a lasting union if they have love for each other. Indeed love is a must where unity is the end goal. But what exactly is love? Love, at its core, is genuine care and concern. Love without genuine care is fake love. If we are serious about uniting to build a better Zimbabwe we must have genuine care and concern for each other, otherwise our union will not last. It therefore is imperative that anyone wishing to join the ZRN family, understands and embraces this fundamental organisational principle, and commits to choose to have love (genuine care and concern) for every other member of our ZRN society.
• Love for our country: In the same way that we must love one another as members of a family, it is equally important that we have love (genuine care and concern) for our country. This is because our country is our home. If we love our home and build it with care, and take care of it, and equip it with all amenities, it will be able to provide us the security, protection and comfort we require. The better we equip our home, the more comfortable it is for us to live in it. The same applies to our country. If we build it up and equip it with all infrastructure and technology and comforts of life, it will also be able to provide better security, protection, comfort and a better standard of living for us. When we do not care about our country, we are the ones who suffer as a result. It therefore is important that everyone joining ZRN opts to have love (genuine care and concern) for our country, and commits to do their best to prevent its destruction, and to do their best for the good of our country.
• Unity of purpose: The subject of unity is addressed in detail on the operations page.
• Honesty, integrity and transparency: For our organisation to succeed in achieving its goals, it is important that we all subscribe to the principles of honesty, integrity and transparency. We must commit to be transparent in our dealings as an organisation, and as members of ZRN. It is the duty of every member to see to it that those who transact on behalf of the organisation do so in a transparent manner, and also to ensure that other members do not get away with dishonest transactions with the organisation. If every member holds themselves and everyone else to account, no one can get away with fraudulent deals. Every member must make it their business to ensure that they know what is being done with any funds raised by the organisation, and ensure that they are not being mismanaged, because if they don't they are the ones who lose when funds that are supposed to benefit them are misdirected.
• Ownership of the organisation: By joining ZRN, one gains part ownership of the organisation. This means they have part ownership of all assets and resources belonging to the organisation, and they have a say in how these are to be administered and a right to benefit from them, as agreed upon through majority vote.
• Responsibility for the organisation: As part owner of the organisation, every member also has the responsibility to protect the organisation and to seek to progress it, through participation in organisational activities, and contribution of ideas on how to advance the interests of the organisation. Every member also has a duty to see to it that they know of all dealings done in the name of the organisation, and ensure that the organisation is not brought to disrepute, through activities of some members, whether leadership or general assembly.
• One member, one vote: Every member of ZRN, has a right and a duty to vote to influence decisions made concerning the organisation and its activities. Voting is done online and carries a small pledge e.g. 10c (members will decide) which is contributed towards the implementation of the idea they are voting for. A member who opts not to exercise their right to vote still contributes their 10c voting pledge, as a way of encouraging members not to give up their fundamental right to influence and direct organisational operations. This way the funds needed to implement the idea voted for are simultaneously collected through the voting process, and members finance their own chosen activities.
• Contributing to agreed upon undertakings: All Organisational activities are agreed upon by majority vote. It is our duty as members to build up our organisation by partaking in voted upon activities. A member who does not partake in agreed upon organisational activities may lose their membership, unless they have a valid reason for their failure to partake. This is intended to discourage the mentality where we as a people expect that someone other than ourselves has the duty to build up our organisation for our benefit. Instead members are encouraged to take charge and play their role in building their own organisation knowing that they are the ones who stand to benefit from the organisation's progress.
• Treat people fairly, with care and compassion: To be able to work together, and sustain our community so that it can continue to benefit us, we must treat each other fairly, with love and kindness. Everybody likes to stay around people who treat them well, and tends to distance themselves from ill treatment. It is therefore imperative that we make a conscious effort to retain good, respectful relations among ourselves, so that we do not destroy the very community that we expect to protect us, progress us, as well as aid us in times of need.

Violation of our code of conduct, which is enshrined in our above-listed values and principles, may lead to suspended membership accompanied by disciplinary action as recommended by the disciplinary committee. This may include:

In all cases the consequences recommended by the disciplinary committee for any violation of organisational values are intended to help the member in question gain new perspective and realise better ways to operate that can help them achieve their goals without violating others or compromising our community, and full member status is reinstated once the disciplinary committee is satisfied that the violating member has genuinely reformed their understanding and their approach. In all our dealings with each other love and unity are to be our underlying guiding principles.

• A warning: a first time offender may get off with only a warning if the disciplinary committee sees fit.
• A fine: whose sum is determined by the disciplinary committee may be issued to the violating party. This will be accompanied by a means of rehabilitating said party for the purposes of reforming their views and thinking patterns.
• Reparation: where a member of ZRN violates another member, the disciplinary committee determines a form of reparation to be offered to the violated member by the violator. The committee may also consider an offer volunteered by a violating member to make reparations to the violated party.
• Community service: which is designed to benefit the organisation, and minister a form of therapy or rehabilitation to the violator.
• Withholding of benefits: organisational benefits may be withheld upon recommendations of the disciplinary committee from a member who has failed to uphold organisational ethics.
• Suspension: a member may be temporarily suspended for a specified time period, pending further consideration by the disciplinary committee.
• Voluntary expulsion: a member who is not willing to make reparations and reform in order to facilitate the sustenance of the ZRN community is free to voluntarily exit the organisation, in which case they opt to forego any potential benefits they are entitled to, and any contributions they may have made to the organisation.