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Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Cde Angeline Masuku has urged the people of Bulawayo to work hard towards the development of the province and to remain united as was envisaged when the Unity Accord was signed.

Cde Masuku was speaking yesterday to commemorate the signing of the Unity Accord on December 22 in 1987.

The Unity Accord ended disturbances in the country’s Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the 1980s.

“This is an important day that should be valued by every Zimbabwean. When the former President Cde Robert Mugabe and the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Accord, it brought peace in Zimbabwe.

“I want to call upon the people of Bulawayo to respect this day because it brought peace to the people of Zimbabwe.

“Where there’s no peace there’s is no development. It’s therefore important to promote peace and maintain it at all times,” said Cde Masuku.

She said Unity Day was not just a holiday, but a day to reflect and remember how the country’s leadership managed to bring peace to the country.

“I was one of the 10-member committee which was tasked after the signing of the Unity Accord to preach the gospel of unity. The committee consisted of five Zanu members and five from Zapu.

“I was one of the Zapu members. Our task was to make sure that people don’t fight or incite violence in the communities. It was not an easy task because in some areas the people were violent against us while some chased us away,” said Cde Masuku.

“Our lives were at risk but we soldiered on because we wanted to see a peaceful Zimbabwe. This led to the 1990 congress held by the united Zanu-PF, with both parties brought together.”

She said the people of Bulawayo should remember that the unity experienced today was fought for.

“It’s therefore important to work together in bringing Bulawayo back to its status of being the country’s industrial hub. If we work together we’ll succeed.

“The new Government that has come in should reflect unity in the entire country,” said Cde Masuku.

@pamelashumba1