Zanu PF has hailed founding fathers — Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo — for selflessly putting the country’s interest ahead of their own through the signing of the Unity Accord.

Today, Zimbabwe marks 33 years since the signing of the Unity Accord between liberation parties ZANU and ZAPU to form Zanu PF.

In a statement, Zanu PF acting secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa thanked the show of selflessness by the late former leaders.

“After years of internal instability and disturbances in the southern provinces and parts of Midlands, on 22 December 1987, our founding fathers led by the late national heroes Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Cde Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo took the selfless giant step to bury our differences bring about unity, peace, stability, harmony and tranquillity.”

Zanu PF applauded President Mnangagwa for continuing on the path of entrenching the ideals of unity through bringing opposition parties together to contribute to nation building.

A platform for opposition parties to interface with the ruling party was created through the formulation of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

“Zanu PF congratulates the President and First Secretary of the party His Excellency Cde ED Mnangagwa for his continued resilience in consolidating the gains of the Unity Accord and fostering the spirit of unity and dialogue through the creation of the POLAD platform to ensure that dialogue becomes the cornerstone of democracy.”

In the statement, Zanu PF also commended the President for the formulation of the healing processes to bring closure to the Gukurahundi issue.

“As the Unity Day marked the end of regrettable disturbances which were unfolding in the southern provinces, Zanu PF commends President ED Mnangagwa and his Government for tireless efforts and bravery in engaging the Matabeleland collective groups: chiefs, churches, civic society, affected individual families and youths in order to bring finality on the emotive Gukurahundi issue.

“Zanu PF applauds the President for creating platforms for open discussions on this issue as part of the national healing process.

“This gesture of statesmanship by the President is indeed in fulfilment of the spirit of the Unity Accord and the aspirations of our founding fathers.”