The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
Correspondent
THE old adage “united we stand, divided we fall”, is very relevant in the Zimbabwean context.
As the nation continues to enjoy peace and unity, everybody who craves development salutes the founding fathers’ determination to forge ahead with unity of purpose for the development agenda to remain alive and kicking in the Zimbabwean psyche.
It is the enemy of progress who distastes unity in a country.
Mass nationalism which began in the 1950s was a confirmation that measures to stop racism and outright oppression would not result in the coloniser accepting majority rule.
Some indigenous people had tried demonstrations and other means to coerce the white man to the negotiating table, but all those efforts were in vain.
Africans showed consciousness, but they could not put a fight to drive the white man from power.
In spite of the successes made by the City Youth League in the wake of the bus boycott, leaders decided to have one nationalist party as they joined hands with the old African National Congress based in Bulawayo.
At that time, blacks realised that without unity, majority rule was a mirage. It was similar to groping in the dark.
Importantly, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) was an organisation that traversed the length and breadth of Zimbabwe. Leadership came from all the ethnic groups of Zimbabwe.
The late Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Nkomo’s praise name, Chibwe chitedza is not a Ndebele word, meaning to say at the time, all what the people wanted was a person who would lead them to independence.
Dr Nkomo fitted the bill.
ZAPU had arrived and it was a national party.
Two liberation movements emerged in the 1960s, namely ZANLA and ZIPRA which had a common name.
History has it that there were clashes between the two liberation armies during the liberation war, but as independence beckoned, the Patriotic Front was forged, first in 1976 and again in 1979 after the late former British Prime Minister, Ms Margaret Thatcher convened the Lancaster House Conference chaired by Lord Carrington.
The Patriotic Front was not the genesis of unity, but it was an enhancement of the unity which has been part of the national culture of this great nation.
December 22 is a day that celebrates the diversity and togetherness of Zimbabweans.
While it is true that on December 22, 1987, the two presidents of the rival parties, ZANU and ZAPU (the late Cde Robert Mugabe and Dr Nkomo) appended their signatures to the document detailing how the two parties would move in the future, it is instructive to note that everyone in this country cherish unity.
This is evidenced by the intermarriages that occur every day where one who hails from Mashonaland marries a Ndebele.
Fast forward to 2023.
Unity is still very much on the national agenda, with the highest office reiterating that Zimbabwe is a unitary State.
A social commentator, Mr Godwin Ndlovu who hails from Bulawayo, said unity is beautiful for everyone.
He, however, lamented the fact that the history of ZIPRA has not yet been sent to the public domain.
“I appreciate unity. I really do, but it is my sincere hope that more chronicles will be put in the public domain concerning ZAPU and ZIPRA. For example, it appears that ZAPU was a regional party, yet many people out of Bulawayo and Matabeleland had their ZAPU allegiance. Similarly, it is untrue that ZANU did not have supporters in this region,’’ he said.
Many activists for disunity border on the petty issues. There is strength in numbers and when people are united and have one vision, they win big.
When Government walks the talk through devolution funds to make things happen everywhere, there is no question that the Unity Accord is alive and breathing.
Getting to the apex of development entails cooperation and this calls for unity to prevail.
Language appears a bone of contention for people to fully embrace unity.
There are 16 official languages in Zimbabwe.
There are complaints from some communities that teachers from other areas come to teach their children, yet they are unappreciative of the language in that area.
Marymount Teachers’ College is training Ndau speaking teachers and Great Zimbabwe University is training students in the so-called minority languages in an effort to complement Government efforts to solidify unity in Zimbabwe. Language must never be a barrier to unity.
Granted, the Unity Accord of 1987 was a political one with the two revolutionary parties merging.
However, this unity must, not only be along political lines, but the social dimension ought to be juxtaposed with the political one.
Political leaders have to preach unity and shun tribalism.
African history has always been about migration.
Thus, Zimbabweans are related whichever way you look at it.
It is a plus for the founding fathers of this great nation, Dr Joshua Nkomo and the late Cde Robert Mugabe who realised that disunity breeds deaths and when you are united, economic, social and political developments take place as well.
Only last year, in a show of unity, President Mnangagwa accorded national hero status to the late ZANU founding president, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and Cde James Chikerema, nationalists of note who were shunted aside by the politics of the time.
That is a hallmark of a leader who thrives on unity to foster development on many fronts. Without unity, the country is doomed.
