Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has been praised for his progressive stance in finally bringing closure to the Gukurahundi issue as this will further solidify the unity existing in the nation, which is key in the attainment of Vision 2030.
The President has taken a proactive approach in addressing the Gukurahundi issue by engaging traditional leaders and empowering them to initiate public hearings.
The country on Friday commemorated the national unity day, a day which is key in reflecting and fostering unity in the nation.
Sunday News last Thursday, caught up with Politburo Member Colonel (Rtd) Tshinga Dube who took this news crew on a brief journey of how the country managed to settle differences and foster unity to date.
“Our early history of independence had a lot of teething problems where there were conflicts and many people lost their lives and we did not know what to do because so many things were going on. After a lot of thoughts, the leaders of the time, former President Robert Mugabe and Vice-President Joshua Nkomo then Zapu President sat down and decided that instead of losing more lives, we better talk and have dialogue and see what can be done.
“This dialogue took place and they chose five people from Zanu and five from Zapu. These had to do a very big job. This committee was supposed to report to Cde Joseph Msika and Cde Maurice Nyagumbo who are also late as well. Those two were then supposed to then report to President Mugabe and Vice-President Nkomo,” said Col (Rtd) Dube.
He said it was a very cumbersome exercise because of the hostilities of the time, as people were on each other’s throats and at the same time it was instigated by the intelligence forces of Rhodesia and South Africa.
“They (Rhodesians and South African apartheid government) really did not want the people of Zimbabwe to be united because they wanted to portray a narrative that Africans cannot rule themselves that is why they did not want to give us independence.
“However, these talks went on well, it took time, for three months they were discussing but in 1987 the comrades then signed the Unity Accord and set up certain structures for example that of the two Vice-Presidents,” said Col (Rtd) Dube.
He said there were other gentlemen’s agreements that were made but these were not written. They were just discussed and agreed upon and as a result some of these were not thoroughly done.
“The idea was that we were going to continue polishing up the document but these were overtaken by time. However, President Mnangagwa has been very vocal about some of these things. He has emphasised on the need for unity. Why is he keen on unity? It is because he has Vision 2030 which he wants the nation to attain but cannot do so if there is no unity. This is why unity is very important.
“We must continue to teach our children where unity came from and what is the purpose of unity so that they too can tell their children. The mere fact that 22 December is a national holiday means we need to continuously remind ourselves on the importance of peace and where we came from the days of early independence,” said Col (Rtd) Dube.
“The President now is very active to try and get chiefs involved so that we can erase the chapter of the Gukurahundi because as long as it resonates in our ears our children would want to know, what this Gukurahundi was.” — @nyeve14
Online Reporter