President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabweans to safeguard national unity, warning that division threatens peace, stability and economic development, as the country marked the 38th anniversary of Unity Day on Sunday.
In a message to the nation, President Mnangagwa said Unity Day remains a defining moment in Zimbabwe’s history, symbolising reconciliation, peace and collective nation-building following the signing of the Unity Accord on 22 December 1987.
He described unity as a “non-negotiable national value” and called on citizens to reject divisive tendencies, stressing that Zimbabwe’s development agenda depends on social cohesion and shared national purpose.
The President said the principles of the Unity Accord continue to guide the country’s governance and development trajectory, adding that the gains made since independence were a result of unity, cooperation and inclusivity across political, ethnic and social lines.
President Mnangagwa also highlighted ongoing national development programmes, noting that economic growth, infrastructure development and social progress can only be sustained in an environment of peace and mutual respect.
He appealed to political leaders, traditional authorities, the youth and the broader citizenry to uphold the spirit of unity beyond commemorations, saying national cohesion must be reflected in everyday conduct and decision-making.
Unity Day commemorates the agreement signed by the late former President Robert Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, which ended years of political conflict and laid the foundation for national reconciliation.
The day is observed as a public holiday and is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s post-independence peace and nation-building process.
