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The late nationalist Dr Joshua Nkomo was instrumental in the formation of the earliest liberation parties in Zimbabwe, including the National Democratic Party, Southern Rhodesia African National Congress and Zapu.
One of the legacies that he left for his country is national unity.
After years of instability in parts of Matabeleland and Midlands, Dr Nkomo, as leader of PF-Zapu, and Cde Mugabe as leader of Zanu-PF signed the Unity Accord on December 22, 1987, ending the civil disturbances.
After the accord, Cde Mugabe assumed the post of President and First Secretary of the united Zanu-PF and consequently President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Dr Nkomo became the Vice-President and Second Secretary of the united party and consequently Vice-President of the republic.
We publish below the full text of the Unity Accord Dr Nkomo and President Mugabe signed on December 22, 1987;
PREAMBLE
Conscious of the historical links between Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu in the struggle for national independence and democracy through the strategy of the armed struggle and their alliance under the Patriotic Front;
Cognisant of the fact that the two parties jointly command the support of the overwhelming majority of the people of Zimbabwe as evidenced by the General Election results of 1980 and 1980 respectively;
Notwithstanding that Zanu-PF commands a greater percentage of the said overwhelming majority of the people of Zimbabwe;
Desirous to unite our nation; establish peace, law and order and to guarantee social and economic development;
Determined to eliminate and end the insecurity and violence caused by dissidents in Matabeleland;
Convinced that national unity, political stability and order, social and economic development can only be achieved to their fullest under conditions of peace and unity primarily of Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu;
We the two leaders of Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu that is to say, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe, First Secretary and President of Zanu-PF and Comrade Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, President of PF-Zapu, assisted by a Sub-Committee of equal members of Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu, held 10 meetings to discuss the possible unity of our two parties as follows;
1st Meeting; 2 October, 1985, Parliament Buildings
2nd Meeting; 28 November, 1985, Parliament Buildings
3rd Meeting; 4 April 1986, Parliament Buildings
4th Meeting; 22 July 1986, Parliament Buildings
5th Meeting; 29 December, 1986, Parliament Buildings
6th Meeting; 25 February, 1987, Parliament Buildings
7th Meeting; 3 August, 1987, Parliament Buildings
8th Meeting; 10 August, 1987, Parliament Buildings
9th Meeting; 23 October 1987, Parliament Buildings
10th Meeting; 10 October 1987, Parliament Buildings
Consequently, upon these meetings and paying due regard to the principal issues raised thereafter, we have agreed as follows;
That Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu have irrevocably committed themselves to unite under one political party;
That the unity of the two political parties shall be achieved under the name Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front), in short Zanu-PF;
That Cde Robert Mugabe, shall be the First Secretary of and President of Zanu-PF;
That Zanu-PF shall have two Second Secretaries and Vice-Presidents who shall be appointed by the First Secretary and President of the Party;
That Zanu-PF shall seek to establish a socialist society in Zimbabwe on the guidance of Marxist-Leninist principles;
That Zanu-PF shall seek to establish a One-Party State in Zimbabwe;
That the leadership of Zanu-PF shall abide by the Leadership Code;
That the existing structures of Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu shall be merged in accordance with the letter and spirit of this Agreement;
That both parties shall, in the interim, take immediate, vigorous steps to eliminate and end insecurity and violence prevalent in Matabeleland
That Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu shall convene their respective Congresses to give effect to this Agreement within the shortest possible time;
That, in the interim, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe is vested with full powers to prepare for the implementation of this Agreement and to act in the name and authority of Zanu-PF.
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