Unity Accord: Peace without reconciliation

AS we commemorated the 1987 Zimbabwe Unity Accord between Zanu PF and PF Zapu (inter-party unity accord because there was no grassroot consultation) we reflected on how it came to be, it’s nature and it’s effect on today’s socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe.

PF Zapu and Zanu PF jointly executed the liberation struggle to attain political and economic independence. The liberation struggle was also fought to ensure plurality of political space and economic inclusion. Unfortunately, Zanu PF, as the ruling party diligently and successfully obliterated political plurality through the Gukurahundi genocide. Economic inclusion was obliterated by the creation of oligarchs that have captured and paralysed the whole economy.

The incapacity to tolerate political difference consumed the Zanu PF leadership under the late former President Robert Mugabe until the Zanu PF government mooted the idea of creating the notorious Fifth Brigade and unleashed it in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces. According to Catholic Commission for Justice, more than 20 000 civilians were killed by members of the Zimbabwe National Army between 1982 and 1987. It was not a civil war but genocide.

As a young patrol officer in the ZRP, I was posted to Plumtree Police Station and I witnessed the Unity Accord talks between Zanu PF and PF Zapu which were held at Plumtree High School in 1987.

PF Zapu’s young turks were pushing for a new political party with a name totally different from Zanu PF or PF Zapu as the basis for the agreement. Zanu PF on the other hand insisted on swallowing PF Zapu wholesale. Eventually Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo conceded to the bullying Zanu PF for the purposes of peace without justice. He told the young turks like Dumiso Dabengwa and Sydney Malunga, “Bantwana bami uRobert (Mugabe) ngiyamazi. Uyaliqeda lonke dhuuuu. (My sons, I know Robert (Mugabe) well. He will finish you off.)”

The Unity Accord was agreed and signed between politicians and it ended the raging genocide. The Unity Accord did not bring peace and reconciliation because it was a top-down approach to governance. Mugabe and Nkomo signed the Accord and sold it to the people without grassroots consultation as part of the peace-making process. No reconciliation efforts were made at all on the part of the Zanu PF government which up to today has not officially taken responsibility in honesty. The same government refuses to open dialogue on the Gukurahundi genocide unless it regulates the discussion. The Zanu PF ruling class has deliberately removed a big chunk of Zimbabwean history especially that which narrates Zapu and Zipra contribution to the liberation struggle and of course the Gukurahundi genocide.

The Unit Accord is a pact for “peace” without reconciliation and justice. It was not premised on inclusiveness of societal stakeholders.

It should have involved civic society, churches and the traditional leaders.

Zanu PF must go if Zimbabwe is to move forward.