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Christopher Charamba Correspondent
TODAY marks the 27th anniversary of the Unity Accord signed between zanu-pf and PF-ZAPU. The historic 1987 agreement was signed to end the division between the two revolutionary parties that had virtuously fought together for independence. The two parties joined forces at Lancaster House in 1979 but soon after independence they turned political rivals and contested the elections separately.

The repercussion of such an arrangement saw anti-Zimbabwe elements from the former Rhodesian regime, with the support of Apartheid South Africa, spur dissent between 1980 and 1983. As Jesus Christ told his followers: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”

The resultant reaction to the dissension in Matabeleland led to Gukurahundi where the Government deployed forces to suppress the ensuing turbulence.

From October 1985 zanu-pf led by President Mugabe and PF-Zapu led by the Late Vice President Joshua Nkomo met a total of ten times. The final meeting took place on December 10, 1987 at Parliament Buildings before the Unity Accord was signed on December 22.

“Cognisant of the fact that the two parties jointly command the support of the overwhelming majority of the people of Zimbabwe as evidenced by the general election results of 1980 and 1985 respectively,” reads the preamble of the Unity Accord.

The two parties came to the realisation that for there to be unity among the people, political unity needed to be achieved first. As the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo stated after the signing of the document “… the beginning of unity, for unity is not just the signing of documents, unity is what follows.”

For the greater part of the 1990s political unanimity had been achieved and the revolutionary party continued to enjoy support of the majority of Zimbabweans. This in turn assisted the move towards social concord among the people. The effects of the Unity Accord it can be argued, have been long lasting in creating a socially harmonious Zimbabwe.

The impression is that political cohesion and stability transcends the social structure of the state.

Fast forward 27 years since the signing of the Unity Accord. zanu-pf recently ended a highly anticipated congress which culminated in the removal of Dr Joice Mujuru from the Vice Presidency as well as the demotion of senior officials within the party accused of fanning factionalism and an alleged assassination plot on President Mugabe.

If we are to work on the premise that a house divided against itself shall not stand then the unfolding of events leading to congress led one to feel melancholic towards the fate of the ruling party.

Decisions however made at the Congress are reminiscent of those made in 1987 to quote President Robert Mugabe then “what we are witnessing is a tremendous blow to the forces of negation, the forces of division, the forces of destruction… let them be murdered and laid to rest for eternity.” The immediate aftermath of the zanu-pf congress seems and shows a similar blow to forces of factionalism within the party.

Following the dismissal of former Vice President Joice Mujuru, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and Ambassador Phelekezela Mphoko were both appointed Vice Presidents by President Mugabe.

Once again in accordance with provisions in the Unity Accord Zimbabwe has two vice presidents of which one of them, VP Mphoko, is responsible for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation.

This implies that the government sees fit for there to be national healing and reconciliation and rightly so.

Assuming that the social disposition of the state is a reflection of the political then the events of the past few months have created hope, hope that the clean-up of the party which extended to Government will likewise extend to parastatals and state enterprises that have been riven by bad corporate governance.

A restorative relationship must now ensue between Government and the people.

zanu-pf has gone through a purging and like the proverbial phoenix is born anew, rising from the ashes.

This notion is that this has produced a better and stronger government moving forward.