No room for factions in Unity Accord: SK Moyo

ZIMBABWEANS today celebrate Unity Day, with Zanu-PF urging people to move away from divisive factional politics and focus on economic development.

The revolutionary party’s affiliates weighed in saying Zimbabweans should take advantage of the new political dispensation and unite for economic prosperity.

Unity Day is celebrated on December 22 every year in honour of the Unity Accord signed by the country’s two liberation icons, former President Cde Robert Mugabe and the late Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.

The accord — signed on December 22, 1987 — brought together liberation parties Zanu-PF and PF-ZAPU to form a united Zanu-PF.

The two liberation parties had prosecuted the liberation struggled per their liberation names ZANLA and ZIPRA.

Zanu-PF spokesman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said the Unity Accord had no provision for factionalism and should be defended at all costs.

“Efforts to derail it must be discouraged,” he said.

“The letter and spirit of the Accord must be respected. The Unity Accord has no provision for factionalism. I have at all party conferences and other fora spoken hard against factionalism, corruption, tribalism, regionalism and racism. The party constitution remains supreme.”

Cde Khaya Moyo said the Unity Accord should be “the heartbeat of our body politic”.

“We have often heard of the existence of factions within our revolutionary party,” he said.

“No one should lead or belong to a faction. A principled cadre can only belong to the party with one leader. In Zanu-PF, our leader is Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and no one else.

“The recently held Extraordinary Congress of our glorious and revolutionary party Zanu-PF ratified this fact.

“It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to celebrate Unity Day by reflecting and stock taking our actions as we endeavour to fully subscribe to our party’s motto; ‘Unity, Peace and Development’.”

He said focus should be on the implementation of ZimAsset.

“Pretenders have no room in Zanu-PF,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.

“Corruption has no room in Zanu-PF. Those who give lip-service to the revolution will regret

their actions. After the successful hosting of our Extraordinary Congress last week, may I take liberty on behalf of the Zanu-PF leadership to wish you all a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2018.”

Women’s League secretary Cde Mabel Chinomona said every one should play a part to ensure unity.

“It’s no longer unity between ZANU and ZAPU, it now involves everyone,” she said.

“The day is a coming at a time when we have just entered into a new political dispensation. There were a lot of disagreements amongst people and the Zimbabwean family had been divided by the G40 cabal. Some were not sure which direction to take but we need to unite and build our country. We do not like unnecessary fights; we have to forgive and accept each other.”

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association spokesman Cde Douglas Mahiya said Unit Day recognised the fundamental principles of the revolution.

“It is these fundamentals that must unite people,” he said.

“It must be understood that the initial people who united were ZIPRA and ZANLA forces before the unity reached the political level. It must be noted that united we stand, divided we fall and as such Zimbabweans at all levels must unite. We must leave our differences and forge ahead to see the new dispensation paying dividend.”

Zimbabwe Ex-political Prisoners Detainees Restrictees Association chairman Cde Victor Kuretu said: “It is a day we cherish which is coming at an appropriate time we are celebrating the coming in of a new Zimbabwe. This is the right time and a fresh start which should see us uniting and working towards one goal of development.”

Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators vice chairperson Cde Josephine Gandiya weighed in: “Today we have a Zimbabwe with a vision that is beyond regional, tribal or sectional interests and we are happy that in this new dispensation, our leader, Cde Mnangagwa is calling for unity. No more Mashonaland, no more Matabeleland. These are mere administrative boundaries and nothing more.”

Provinces have lined up different activities to mark the day.