The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere and Pamela Nyabadza – Extra Reporters
“In these two leaders (Dr Joshua Nkomo and President Mugabe) we had people who had political foresight. During the unfortunate Gukurahundi period, we (Zipra) were well-armed and if unity was not achieved we were going to witness a lot of bloodshed.”
These were words of national hero and Vice President of Zimbabwe, Cde Joseph Msika, when asked to give his take on the Unity Accord back in 2003.
In this emotive statement, the liberation hero showed how easily peace could have been discarded had it not been for the vision of President Mugabe and Dr Nkomo.
The statement is also a reminder of the value of the Unity Accord to the whole of Zimbabwe besides it being a pact between two political parties, Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu.
Tomorrow Zimbabweans once again celebrate the Unity Accord, which was signed to end civil hostilities on December 22, 1987.
Political analysts say this year’s celebrations are not only about unity but peace as well, as unity is an ongoing process and not an event.
Others add that the timeliness of Zanu-PF’s 6th National People’s Congress to this year’s unity celebrations serves as a cleansing of the remnants of disunity and hostilities between ethnic groups and within the ruling party.
Political commentator and scholar at the University of Johannesburg Mr Kendrick Mazingaizo said many youths do not seem to fully understand the value of the Unity Accord.
“There is now a danger that some youths now have a view that the Unity Accord is some event where beasts are slaughtered and people make merry without really knowing what they are celebrating,” he said.
“We should always remind each other that like love unity is something that you only see when you practice it. It is a process not an event.”
Another political commentator, Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri, added: “Unity Day is a day of unifying all the people and groups from all walks of life in Zimbabwe without disparities in race. Our unity day also bring on board all the people in building the nation. We can be from different groups and have different beliefs but unity day reminds us that we are one.”
Dr Mhiripiri went on, “The idea of Unity Day is not only for the Zanu-PF members but it is for the whole nation to partake. Some might be of the opposition but we are unified by our unity day, at the end of the day we are one people.
“The 6th Zanu-PF congress was timely as it transpired with the unity day ahead of it, those who had their grievances were solved during the congress and unity day is going to unite everyone.”
Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa told our sister paper The Herald that the leadership of Zimbabwe will always lead and the guide the nation on the principles of unity.
“It is the desire of Zimbabwe’s leadership to move forward as a family and the few who may fall by the wayside are of no consequence.”
MDC-T legislator for Kuwadzana Mr Nelson Chamisa said unity was for everyone and went beyond political affiliation.
“The day goes beyond political affiliation, it is a day for every Zimbabwean,” he said.
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President Mugabe
Unity, unity and more unity, as they say of course, in unity, if we remain united we will be able to withstand all the onslaught, whatever form it takes, sometimes by the way of sanctions, by way of vilification, by way of political action. Once we are united in defence of our sovereignty, we can never be vanquished. Tikaramba takabatana hapana chinotikurira. Tingave nekurwadziwa nemasanctions, nezviito zvinoitwa nevavengi vedu, zvose zvimwe zvavanoronga. Takabatana, tichizvirongawo hatife takakurirwa.
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Dr Joshua Nkomo
I regard unity as Zimbabwe’s number one priority, the sine qua non of national happiness. I pray and hope that it will be achieved so that Zimbabwe can become one country or one nation, with opportunities rights and privileges for everybody – white yellow, black, Zezuru, Kalanga, Tonga, Coloured and all
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Cde Cephas Msipa
I personally believe we have achieved what we meant to achieve and what people like Banana had in mind. We may have differences here and there but we are all Zimbabweans. I know people who were not there before the Unity Accord may not appreciate what changes took place after that. For instance, people in Matebeleland were thinking they are not part of Zimbabwe, but after the Unity accord they realized they are Zimbabweans.
Yes we may have some problems, but without the unity accord those problems would be worse. When Cde Dabengwa moved out, did he take with him the majority of the people who are former Zapu or he just took a minority with him? In politics it is what the majority of the people say and for all I know the majority the majority of the people are behind the unity accord.
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Dr Dumiso Dabengwa
Those in other sectors of the party, such as the grassroots and so forth, who feel they have suggestions on how our unity can be enriched can come along and offer those valuable suggestions.
If someone for some reason feels that things can be improved they should feel free to point out such issues because unity is a process and not an event.
