It was a "UNITY ACCORD" - because Mugabe had forced the One-Party-State, dissolved ZAPU and {claimed} to have suspended the Gukurahundi Genocide! The day democracy was 'killed-off' in Zimbabwe.
No, it is NOT a happy anniversary.
The Unity Accord was anything but UNITY - it was an ultimatum with a gun to the head of Joshua Nkomo - a key Independence supporter and supposedly an ally.
The Gukurahundi Genocide of 1983 to 1987 in Zimbabwe began with a desire and also a design by Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF political party for one-party state rule and life presidency. For all that to be achieved Joshua Nkomo and ZAPU had to be eliminated.
“ Nkomo and his guerrillas are germs in the country’s wounds and they have to be cleaned up with iodine” - Edgar Tekere ( ZANU PF stalwart)
Following Zimbabwe’s independence from British rule in 1980, political tension increased between two political groups in Zimbabwe, namely the ruling African National Union (ZANU), led by Robert Mugabe, and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), led by Joshua Nkomo. Violence unleashed on the Ndebele people by the Mugabe-led government was a direct result of government efforts to silence the voices of minority groups and growing political critique from ZAPU.
In January 1983, the ZANU PF government of Robert Mugabe, in the newly independent Zimbabwe, launched a massive security clampdown on the Ndebele. This was both politically and ethnically motivated. At the heart of the operation was a strategy of state-ordered terror. It was perpetrated by a 4,000-strong all-Shona Fifth Brigade of the Zimbabwean National Army led by Perrance Shiri.
"This day only gets darker with the actions of this unrepentant rogue regime in Harare. Their henchmen should not be granted easy access into the UK to witch-hunt perceived enemies of ZANU PF. Conversely, marked Zimbabweans should not be deported without wide consultation." ZAPU National Spokesperson
Feelings of the Diasporans
Today, the 22nd of December 2024, the 37th Anniversary of the (forced) signing of the "Unity Accord"
"It is a dark day in Zimbabwe as We stand all united, standing together for justice, dignity, and love against the continuation of the forced Unity Accord by the current ZANU-PF regime and it's leader E.D Mnangagwa. The regime is using using the tools of repression capture and human rights abuses in silencing dissenting voices.
I am one of the names (Dickson Chikwizo) who's linked to opposition politics 'undermining' the regime written in the document. "There's a recent deployment of a special team to the UK tasked to look for us and carry out this political persecution." Or so Zanu PF claim!"
"As a Zimbabwean, 22nd of December is suppose to be a day to celebrate unity; but, rather it feels just like any other day on the calendar. Even though we haven’t experienced ethnic conflict the peace that exist is fragile and enforced through human rights abuses , social injustice, political oppression, social injustice….to mention but a few, contributions to the 'lack of peace and stability' within Zimbabwe." Rudo Yvonne Dodzo
"United we stand, divided we fall! Is 'Unity Day' real or fake? Food for thought. My picture for the fake day".
The Zimbabwe "Unity Day" on 22nd of December has become inconsequential since the majority are fed up with the regime's failure to abide by the rules or the Constitution.The agreements stipulated in the Unity Accord have faded by each day leading to lack of trust of the genuineness of the past, plus the present administration's taking the minds of the populace for granted.
The "Unity Agreement" was put in place after the genocide of over twenty thousand (20,000 or as high as 80,000) people of Matebeleland, massacred by the 5th brigade, part of the national army personnel trained to carry out the operation.
It was due to Mugabe's desire for a One-Party-State, that he 'fabricated evidence' to trigger an "excuse" to destroy, Dr Joshua Nkomo and the ZAPU Political Party. Mugabe had 'agreed' to call for a ceasefire after the killings had escalated which he called the "Unity Accord". But it was not UNITY.
Unity should bring love that is forgivable but with empty promises, lack of democracy freedom of association and the continuity of the incarceration of human and political activists including anyone who oppose what comes out of the regime. Love kindness and forgiveness, should be the norm of the day.
Josephine Jenje-Mudimbu
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| Dickson Chikwizo | Petty Ziramba |
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| Evelyn Chigaro | Greatman Makipa |
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| Rudo Yvonne Dodzo | Samiso Moyo {click Image to Listen} |
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| Basil Kamombe | Josephine Jenje |
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| Tendai Christian Mapfumo | Mevis Mutsvangwa |