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Zimbabweans on Monday celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Unity Accord signed between the two revolutionary parties, Zanu-PF and PF Zapu in 1987. The two liberation icons, President Robert Mugabe of Zanu-PF and the late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo of PF-Zapu signed the Accord which saw the two revolutionary parties merging to form Zanu-PF.

The country has since then been enjoying peace and tranquility which has been the envy of not only the Southern African region but the entire continent. Monday therefore is a day when each and every Zimbabwean should be reflecting on the 22 years of national unity.

The nation should be taking stock of the country’s achievements as a result of the prevailing peace and mapping the way forward in consolidating national unity. Zimbabweans witnessed the devastating effects of civil strife which affected Matabeleland region and parts of the Midlands province and would therefore not want a repeat of this.

It is therefore crucial to maintain the prevailing peace to enable the nation to focus on development which will improve the people’s livelihoods. This year’s Unity Day celebrations are unique in that they are coming soon after the party, born out of the Unity Accord, has just held a successful National People’s Congress. Delegates to the congress were all agreed on the need to preserve unity so that the country can concentrate on development guided by the government’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset.

Many African countries have been devastated by civil wars that are claiming hundreds of lives everyday and these include Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Southern Sudan and many others. Resources in these war-torn countries are being wasted buying weapons of war instead of being directed to development which improves the people’s lives.

Refugees’ populations are as a result ballooning.  Zimbabwe can therefore not afford to take unity for granted hence the need to nurture and consolidate this unity of purpose.

The present generation has an obligation to bequeath to future generations this spirit of working as united people. Unity as rightly pointed out by the Zanu-PF national spokesman, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, dates back to 1976 after the formation of the Patriotic Front. We therefore want to commend the leadership of the two revolutionary parties that continued to work towards uniting the two parties which was finally achieved in 1987.

The government, it has to be acknowledged, takes the Unity Accord very seriously hence it has assigned Vice President Ambassador Phelekezela Mphoko the National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation portfolio.