Chronicle Editor
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
AS aptly expressed by President Mnangagwa, a people divided can never build a nation. It takes all of us acting as a collective to work towards our national aspirations.
There have been several events throughout our history that have threatened to divide Zimbabwe. These events, although unfortunate have shaped our nation and have had a lasting impact on all of us. We should, however, not live in the past, neither should we totally ignore it.
We should learn from it and use its lessons in building a common and shared future, for we are one people.
We should, however, not make a clean break with history or those moments that we are not entirely proud of. We should learn, accept and make peace with the past as we chart a new and prosperous future for our nation. As difficult as the past was, we should look within us to uplift our nation and find a formula that is best suited to our nation.
There are events such as Gukurahundi that invoke strong emotions among our people. Such events, as unfortunate and undesirable as they are, are part of our history. There are very few if any nations that have not witnessed some difficulties within their history. As nations are born and evolve, there will be hiccups and difficult situations along the way. Zimbabwe is no different.
What is important is how such difficulties are addressed. Such difficulties can only be addressed if and when we all work together as a collective. This is what the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme seeks to achieve. Once this exercise is complete, our unity and cohesion as a nation should be fortified.
Unity immensely benefits our nation while disunity has some undesirable outcomes. Last week, His Excellency, our President and First Secretary Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa launched the Gukurahundi Community Engagement Programme in Bulawayo. This is a commendable initiative and as difficult as it seems, it is what our nation needs to recover and heal from tragedies of the past.
There can be no denying that the past has a propensity of being unpleasant at times. It is, however, the courage to confront such an unpleasant past that makes all the difference. A nation united can overcome any adversities. It is unity that brings strength and it is such unity that forms the crux of our great nation’s aspirations.
To achieve total unity, there is a need to confront and address any or all historical grievances. The best method of doing this would be to allow people to speak and engage on the unpleased past. This is what the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme seeks to do. Championed by traditional leaders, the initiative offers all those who have a stake in the matter to come at Community level and speak out.
There can be no denying that closure will be attained and an increased level of unity and cohesion will be the result of this exercise. Truly, light often beckons at the end of a dark tunnel. There is light at the end of one of the darkest moments in our country’s history. We should all play our part to ensure that the intention of such initiatives that seek to place our country in a better standing to achieve the intended outcomes.
Working as a collective is the most crucial skill that we must rely upon as we endeavour to attain our goals.
As we continue working for the good of the country, let us take heed of His Excellency, the President and First Secretary’s words that we should not dwell on the shadows of yesterday, but focus on the future of our country.
National healing for those who feel aggrieved is of utmost importance and the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme offers the perfect opportunity for us to chart a path towards total national healing and reconciliation. Zimbabwe has been on a journey filled with so many obstacles as well as opportunities.
As we embark on this highly emotive exercise, it is important to exercise patience, calm and compassion as well as be considerate of others. It will be a difficult exercise of course, but our traditional chiefs who are leading this exercise in their respective communities are well-equipped to ensure that the initiative meets its intended objectives.
The level that, we as a nation have attained over the past few years requires us to be a united front so as to be able to attain maximum benefit for all. Our history as a nation should be able to spur us forward as we strive to attain our goals as a nation.
We should not let historical distortions tear our nation apart, which is why solving and bringing closure to some of these undesirable events which occurred in our history is of the utmost importance. As we forge ahead, let us never for a moment forget the importance of unity among the people of this great nation.
*Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of Zanu-PF. He writes in his own capacity.
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