Unity Day: Celebrating Zim resilience, progress
is a UNITY DAY momentous occasion for Zimbabwe.
IT is commemorated annually to honour the historic signing of the Unity Accord between the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) on December 22, 1987.
Zimbabweans commemorate the day to celebrate the unity of our people, which formed the bedrock of our liberation struggle.
It also marks Zimbabwe’s resilience and progress that our great nation has made under a black majority Government.
The Second Republic — led by His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa — has made unity a pinnacle of its political dealing.
Establishment of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) ushered in a historic platform for political parties to engage and share a vision for national development and reform.
In addition, the President’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind feeds into the philosophy of uniting the country through shared prosperity and fighting marginalisation and poverty in unison.
Unity forms the launchpad of the National Development Strategy and Vision 2030, blueprints meant to catapult Zimbabwe into middle-income society status through unity and pragmatic policy pronouncements.
It should be understood that the doctrine of unity in Zimbabwe has been alive since the pre-colonial days and during the liberation struggle.
The unity between ZANU and ZAPU, the two leading liberation movements, forms the cornerstone of Unity Day.
The merger of these two organisations in 1987 was crucial for the creation of a united front, fostering national cohesion and ensuring a strong post-independence Zimbabwe.
This historic unity was aptly captured in the Unity Accord signed by the leaders of both parties — Cde Robert Mugabe and Dr Joshua Nkomo.
It marked a significant turning point in our nation’s history.
It sought to bury the divisions of the past and forge a united and prosperous future for all Zimbabweans focused on attaining a developmental state.
An important milestone in the journey towards unity was the establishment of the Zimbabwe Independent People’s Army (ZIPA) in 1975.
ZIPA sought to consolidate the efforts of both ZANU and ZAPU in fighting against the oppressive colonial regime, drawing on the strengths and resources of both organisations.
This joint military venture demonstrated the determination of our people to overcome adversity together, inspiring
solidarity and collaboration that would lay the groundwork for future unity.
Such pre-independence endeavours to unite the people, whose goals were to attain a free Zimbabwe for all, marked our commitment to the decimation of regionalism, racism, tribalism and Afrophobia.
The formation of ZIPA not only brought together military forces, but also allowed for political dialogue between ZANU and ZAPU.
This dialogue helped to minimise factionalism and ideological differences, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
Though the initiative faced some challenges, it laid the foundation for future discussions and reconciliation, ultimately leading to the unity agreement between the two parties.
The revolutionary parties of Zimbabwe have been instrumental since time immemorial in making sure the gospel of unity is shared among different clans, tribes and regions of Zimbabwe, thus creating a unitary motherland where all have potential to prosper, lead and fulfil their dreams.
Unity Day also serves to remind us of post-independence efforts to consolidate development of our nation and ensure a harmonious and prosperous future.
Following Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the Government prioritised reconciliation, national healing and nation building.
The spirit of unity became essential in addressing the challenges of transitioning from a liberation struggle to nation building, creating a society that embraced diversity and promoted equal opportunities for all.
Soon after independence, the ZANU leadership allowed the formation of a Government of National Unity to run the affairs of the country, with comrades derived from ZANU, ZAPU and progressive elements of the Rhodesian system.
This allowed the country to continue on a path of stability and, in the process, erasing the racial and tribal divide artificially created by the erstwhile rivalries.
The Government introduced inclusive policies and initiatives aimed at fostering unity and reconciliation, such as the National Reconciliation Policy, which sought to heal the wounds of the past and address past injustices.
Additionally, efforts were made to promote representation and participation of all political parties in the national political discourse, thereby ensuring that diverse voices were heard and taken into account.
Unity Day represents a moment of reflection and celebration, reminding us of the
The unity between ZANU and ZAPU, the two leading liberation movements, forms the cornerstone of Unity Day.
struggles that brought us together and the shared aspirations for a better Zimbabwe.
The unity between ZANU and ZAPU, the establishment of ZIPA and the post-independence unity efforts have shaped and defined our nation’s history, demonstrating our resilience and collective spirit.
When Zimbabwe was faced with acute economic challenges in the aftermath of the 2008 harmonised elections, the Zimbabwean people proved that unity was embedded in their DNA through the signing of the Global Political Agreement that brought together ZANU PF, the Movement for Democratic Change (Tsvangirai) and the Movement for Democratic Change (Mutambara) in another Government of National Unity meant to de-escalate political tensions.
Unity in this regard has always been part of the Zimbabwean political landscape and remains a peremptory value of the ruling ZANU PF. As we commemorate this day, let us remember the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and embrace the unity that has kept our nation strong.
Unity Day remains a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Zimbabwean people and serves as a constant reminder that only through unity can we overcome challenges and build a prosperous future for all Zimbabweans.
Let us continue to foster unity, promote dialogue and work together towards a united, progressive and harmonious Zimbabwe.
◆ Farai Marapira is the ZANU PF Director for Information and Publicity.