Mphoko speaks against tribalism

Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko has challenged Zimbabweans to shun tribalism and work in unison to engender socio-economic development in the country. Addressing hundreds of Zanu-PF supporters at Chikombedzi Primary School in Chiredzi South on Wednesday, Acting President Mphoko said the peace being enjoyed in Zimbabwe would be disturbed if people stoked tribal tensions.

The Acting President rapped Zimbabweans agitating for the election of the country's President based on tribe. He said Zimbabwe would not have easily attained political independence if early nationalist leaders worked along tribal lines. "There are some of us who say "I am Kalanga", "I am Shona", "I am Ndebele", but you can only become a true Zimbabwean the day you stop identifying yourself by tribe, but just as a Zimbabwean," he said.

"We even hear some saying President Mugabe is Zezuru so the next President should be a Manyika or some other tribe, that thinking must stop because we are all just Zimbabweans." Acting President Mphoko said the next Zanu-PF leader should not be chosen based on tribe, but simply on the basis of the will of the people who are free to elect a leader of their choice irrespective of tribe.

He said Zimbabweans should jealously guard the country's hard won independence which came as a result of unity among the liberation forces. Acting President Mphoko urged Zimbabweans to preserve the Unity Accord signed between Zanu-PF and PF Zapu in 1987.

"It must, however, be known that the Unity Accord signed in 1987 was done to merely cement the unity that started in the 1970s during the war of liberation when zanla and zipra forces and their leaders worked together to dismantle colonialism," he said.

Acting President Mphoko took a swipe at Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa for pretending to have revived the party started by the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo which is now part of a united Zanu-PF. The Acting President said Government was aware of challenges faced by Zimbabweans, especially in remote rural areas, which he said would be rectified through Zim-Asset.

He said Zimbabweans were supposed to respect liberation war shrines such Gonakudzingwa and Sikombela detention camps that shaped the fight against colonial rule by both living and departed nationalists. Speaking at the same event, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa appealed to Government to upgrade the Chiredzi-Sango Border Post road which is in a dilapidated state.

Sen Mahofa said the road was a gateway for commerce between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, hence the need to upgrade it for easy access.

Before addressing people at Chikombedzi Primary School, Acting President Mphoko toured Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp near Sango Border Post where nationalist leaders such the late VPs Joshua Nkomo,Joseph Msika and Ruth Chinamano were held by the racist Rhodesian regime in a bid to dampen their resolve to fight for political independence.