KEY POINTS
- Unity Accord’s anniversary highlights peace, unity, and national development.
- President Mnangagwa celebrates Zimbabwe’s resilience amid adversity.
- Zimbabwe prioritizes progress and diversity in its national identity.
As Zimbabwe commemorates 37 years since the signing of the historic Unity Accord, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to unity and progress.
Speaking on Unity Day, Mnangagwa highlighted the significance of the accord signed by Zimbabwe’s founding leaders, Cde Joshua Nkomo and Cde Robert Mugabe, which brought peace and stability to the country.
“This day will forever remind us of our collective duty to defend, promote, and consolidate the grand national heritage of peace, unity, and love,” Mnangagwa said.
According to ZBC News, the President emphasized Zimbabwe’s resilience in overcoming post-independence unrest, economic challenges, and external pressures.
Unity and resilience amid challenges
President Mnangagwa praised Zimbabweans for their unwavering resolve in the face of adversity.
He acknowledged that the nation has endured attacks and ill will from detractors but has emerged stronger.
“Our trials and tribulations have become the wind beneath our wings,” he said, comparing Zimbabwe’s resilience to the fish eagle on the national flag.
“Through oneness and common purpose, we are recording evident transformation in every facet of the economy, village by village, ward by ward, and sector by sector.”
The President also celebrated Zimbabwe’s cultural and linguistic diversity, emphasizing that it strengthens national unity.
He called on citizens to reject self-hate, tribalism, and regionalism, embracing instead the values of peace and confidence in their shared identity.
Celebrating land reform and future development
This year’s Unity Day also marks significant milestones in Zimbabwe’s development.
President Mnangagwa highlighted the Second Republic’s efforts to secure land tenure and empower beneficiaries of the land reform program.
“The land is now permanently with its people, affirming what the liberation struggle was all about,” he said, adding that this achievement represents Zimbabwe’s progress toward a prosperous future.
Unity Day remains a pivotal celebration in Zimbabwe, honoring the peace and stability achieved through the 1987 Unity Accord.
It also serves as a reminder of the nation’s enduring commitment to unity, development, and resilience in the face of challenges.