Those fighting national unity are misguided

At a time all countries and global organisations such as the United Nations are fighting for unity and peace in the world, it is baffling that some Zimbabweans are challenging the country's Unity Day holiday.

Three opposition activists namely, Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, Alexio Musundire and Coliwe Mufaki have approached the Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of declaring 22 December a national holiday.

Considering that the Unity Day is actually a commemoration of national unity and the peace thereof, it is mind-boggling why any right-minded person would challenge such an auspicious holiday.

Surely, with some countries gripped by endless ethnic and racial conflicts, who would resent the enviable peace and unity of people of all races and ethnicity in Zimbabwe?

With horrific and genocidal experiences of ethnic conflicts in countries such as Rwanda and DRC, together with dreadful xenophobic incidences in South Africa and Zambia, who will begrudge Government's efforts to promote and celebrate national unity?

The Unity Day holiday is an initiative by Government to engender a sense of unity among the people. It visibly stands out as a reminder to those who take the country's peace and stability for granted that all this stability is a product of the unshakeable unity of the people of Zimbabwe.

The commemoration of unity is not only localized in Zimbabwe but is also observed in the whole of Africa on 25 May when  all citizens of the continent commemorate the formation of the Organisation of African Union, now African Union (AU), and also celebrate the unity between the nations.

That is why during a combo celebration of Africa Day and the solidarity march for President Robert Mugabe arranged by the ZANU PF Youth League on Wednesday, the President hammered on the issue of unity.

He emphasized that unity should cascade from households to national levels.

The President advised the nation that, "Let us ensure that unity start with the family, the family must be united, families within our villages must work in harmony, they must be united, our regions must be united, the various tribal groups here must be united and that we must show as we deliver its service that it's working for the people as a whole, working for a united people that finally, nationally we are united."

The President also captured the importance of unity by reciting a motto coined by the late Vice President John Nkomo, who summed up unity in these words: "Unity begins with me, unity begins with you, and unity begins with all of us".

It cannot be overemphasized therefore that unity is a collaborative effort that requires the personal effort of everyone, including     the anti-unity activists such as Chinyoka and company.

Lest we forget, the same unity drove sons and daughters from variegated backgrounds to abandon the luxuries of their homes to selflessly join the war of liberation that brought about the country's independence.

These gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe came from all ethnic and racial corners of the country, stretching from Matabeleland to Manicaland and across the breadth, to rally around the common cause of freeing the country from the yoke of colonial bondage.

Strengthened by the spirit of patriotism and unity, the united front of liberation fighters overpowered the colonial establishment of Ian Smith to deliver independence to the people.

This mixed ethnic and racial makeup of the country is a fault line that political detractors are fond of tampering with for political gain, hence Government's vigilant efforts to safeguard national unity by dedicating a day for its commemoration.

Like the colonial masters who flourished on using divide and rule tactics such as the colour bar, the opposition is determined to fan ethnic differences by harping on divisive topics of secessionalism and Gukurahundi.

The opposition seeks to sow seeds of anarchy by pushing divisive policies, which they hope will trigger civil conflagrations as witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries ravaged by waves of the so-called Arab Spring.

Also, this is where illegal sanctions come into play, for they serve to foment divisions and create economic conditions that would spur people to revolt against their Government.

All this Tino Chinyoka-led fight against national unity is aimed at pushing the country to the ledge of disunity and anarchy, a prerequisite for regime change.

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Gwinyai Mutongi  can be contacted at gwinz.mutongi@gmail.com