Tolerance key

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa was inaugurated last Friday. We take this opportunity to congratulate and wish him well in steering the country to greater prosperity. But that is not the story. The story was the convergence of the country’s main political leaders in the form of MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and National People’s Party leader Dr Joice Mujuru, to mention just a few, who all took the opportunity to wish Comrade Mnangagwa well in his new portfolio.

We were inspired by the gesture by the country’s opposition leadership. It is time our country found a happy way of differing.

Let us differ in the modalities of governing our country, but not who should govern it – we won that right 37 years ago.

As we go to elections, we urge the political leadership to maintain that spirit by showing their supporters that differences may be on ideology, but Zimbabwe unites us all.

We hail the example shown by Zanu-PF, MDC-T and NPP. They need to spread the gospel of peace to their structures at the grassroots.

What unites us is stronger than any perceived divisions or differences we may have.

What we saw at the National Sports Stadium were party leaders relating. That theme should also run through the messages they deliver at campaign rallies. They should not change tune by giving supporters bad messages that push some to violence against rival party members.

Senseless political violence has led to the destruction of property worth thousands of dollars and loss of livelihoods in the past.

We challenge the parties to take that unity of purpose to all other challenges confronting society.