Online Reporter
ON this day 38 years ago, two great leaders, former President Robert Mugabe and Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, signed the Unity Accord to formally end the civil conflict that had affected Matabeleland region and parts of Midlands over the previous five years.
A number of people lost their lives, were injured or displaced during the “moment of madness, which will never be allowed to happen again,” as Cde Mugabe put it.
It indeed was an unfortunate moment of madness, but we pay tribute to the two luminaries for working together as Zimbabweans, without foreign assistance, as is often the case with most peace treaties on the continent, to append their signatures to the Unity Accord.
From then on, Zimbabweans under the united Zanu-PF forged one front towards peace, national healing and development.
The agreement has endured, with citizens still enjoying its fruits.
As we join the nation in celebrating National Unity Day today, we hail our two founding fathers for their choice of peace over conflict, unity over division, progress over regression, and forgiveness over vengefulness.
Without those values, our country would have descended into a bitterer, deadlier and more prolonged conflict, the type we have seen turning some countries into nothingness.
In an address to mark the day, President Mnangagwa yesterday asserted the centrality of national unity.
“This is the individual and collective pledge we must all make on this important day, across every community within our borders,” he said.
“Our national unity is sacred. This day must see us all recommit ourselves to guarding, preserving and promoting this critical pillar of our nationhood. At no time should we allow our personalities to be instruments of division. Let us always, patriotically defend our country as well as national image, identity and the character of being united, peaceful and hardworking people.”
“This day remains forever etched in the rich history and heritage of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe. Inspired by the spirit of that Accord, we are all working together as one indivisible nation, towards a prosperous, upper-middle-income society for the benefit of both current and future generations.”
The country has made multiple developmental strides due to the national unity and peace we are enjoying.
The land reform and redistribution programme restored ownership of that resource into the hands of the indigenous people of this nation, its rightful owners. Due to the economic empowerment and indigenisation drive, local Blacks own their economy, unlike most African economies that remain under White control decades after the advent of political independence.
As part of the agenda to deepen the healing process, the Government is conducting the Gukurahundi National Outreach Programme under which those who were directly affected by the conflict in Matabeleland region are freely recounting their experiences.
We implore our people to continue to treasure the Unity Accord and the multiple benefits it has engendered and will continue to engender for the country.
