Some opposition parties say the Unity Accord signed by Zanu PF and PF Zapu in 1987 has not benefited most Zimbabweans though President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party has maintained over the years that the agreement brought a lot of peace and prosperity.
Tuesday marks 28 years since the two parties signed the agreement that ended hostilities between Mr. Mugabe’s Zanu PF and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s PF Zapu.
Zanu PF says the accord brought peace in the country, especially in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, where more than 20,000 people were allegedly killed by the North Korean-trained state crack unit, the Fifth Brigade.
The Movement for Democratic Change formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told VOA Studio 7 there is nothing to celebrate about the unity accord because Zimbabweans still suffer from President Mugabe’s brutal government.
Party spokesperson Obert Gutu said even though his party does not recognize this day they will be observing the holiday like other local people.
“We are very sad,” said Gutu, adding that “instead of calling it Unity Day this day should actually called ‘disunity day’. We see that the country is polarized, the country is divided, and we even noticed that the ruling party Zanu PF is in a serious state of factionalized condition.”
Gutu said the unity that was supposed to be between Zanu PF and PF Zapu “never materialized because the former swallowed the later after its leader Joshua Nkomo was beaten into submission.”
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5
Interview With Obert Gutu
Former PF Zapu stalwart Norman Mabhena said the unity accord collapsed soon after the death of former Vice President Nkomo.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo was not available for comment as he was said to be busy attending several meetings.
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5
Interview With Norman Mabhena