Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Zimpapers Writer
TOMORROW, Zimbabwe will mark Unity Day, a significant national holiday commemorating the 1987 Unity Accord, a historic agreement that ended a turbulent era of political violence and division, setting the country on a path toward peace and shared progress.
More than a day off, Unity Day serves as a solemn reminder of the covenant that brought together the former rival parties Zanu and PF-Zapu.
Signed on December 22, 1987, the Accord ended conflict that had particularly affected Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands, uniting the country under the banner of Zanu- PF.
It was a critical turning point, halting violence and initiating a sometimes difficult but necessary process of healing and national integration.
Thirty-eight years later, that legacy remains central to Zimbabwe’s political and social agenda, especially under the leadership of President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.
The Government has moved beyond symbolic gestures, embedding unity as a core principle within its development strategies.
In an interview with Zimpapers, Zanu-PF Secretary-General and Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda, underscored this connection between unity, peace and progress.
“When we celebrate Unity Day, what in fact we are doing is to affirm the criticality of unity in a nation. As His Excellency the President in the Second Republic has always announced, we must espouse a national unity, a nation that is not divided, a nation that shares a national perspective,” he said.
Adv Mudenda also addressed the sensitive topic of national healing, praising President Mnangagwa’s efforts to confront the painful chapters of the past.
“Coming to the Gukurahundi hearings, I think all credit really goes to President Mnangagwa who has visibly and practically demonstrated that what we experienced before unity is a chapter that was unfortunate. It is a remarkable effort, which we all should support and must support,” he added.
Echoing these sentiments, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, described the Accord as “a sacred covenant for peace, a definitive end to conflict, and a bold blueprint for a unified, inclusive Zimbabwe.”
He credited the current administration with upholding the values of the Unity Accord through its ambitious development agenda.
“Through the Second Republic’s Devolution and Decentralisation agenda, we are witnessing unprecedented infrastructure development,” Minister Moyo said, citing new dams, expanded road networks, clinics, schools, and rural electrification projects. He pointed to the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project, long stalled but now underway, as a powerful symbol of progress.
On national reconciliation, Minister Moyo highlighted ongoing peace-building efforts.
“The National Peace and Reconciliation programmes remain a cornerstone of our national healing. Significant ground has been covered,” he said, describing the consultative processes as courageous and essential to securing lasting harmony.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the government has promoted ideological shifts aimed at unity. The national mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” (A country is built by its owners) encourages all Zimbabweans, regardless of ethnicity, to contribute to nation-building. Constitutional recognition of all official languages, merit-based appointments, and calls for inclusive national dialogue are pillars of this vision.
As Zimbabwe prepares to observe Unity Day 2025, the fruits of this commitment are evident—in revitalised infrastructure, peaceful community dialogues, and policies that prioritise cohesion. The day invites every citizen to embrace their role in this ongoing project, building bridges that connect past struggles to future aspirations.
Bongani Ndlovu