LEGISLATORS across the political divide have called for unity among Zimbabweans, saying that polarisation in the country is hindering economic growth.
Debating President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Mberengwa East legislator Marko Raidza said the country could not develop if there was no unity.
“The president encouraged us to shun polarisation which does not help anyone in this country. If we remain polarised, it means we cannot move forward. He encouraged us to have that unity of purpose as we all have one Zimbabwe. We do not have two Zimbabwe, but we are only a big and beautiful country,” Raidza said.
Chegutu East MP Webster Shamu said without unity the future of the country was doomed.
“Without unity, there is no growth, without unity, there is no integrity, without unity, there is no freedom and without unity, there is no patriotism. His Excellency’s State of the Nation Address is thought-provoking. He outlined what he expects us to achieve as Parliament. In other words, he was addressing all Members of Parliament and the nation as a whole.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, once gracefully said ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand”. The world today has billions of people — Zimbabwe has over 15 million people. Every one of those people has his or her own uniqueness,” Shamu said.
“Each and every one has opposing views on fundamental aspects of life. Normally dissimilarities create divisions and sometimes conflict. However, what we tend to forget, which is what His Excellency the President is trying to remind us of, is that we will have one goal for the betterment of our country and its people. This is what brings unity”.
He added that no team has ever won a game without a united front.
“We all want our national football team, the Warriors to excel. We all want our national women’s football team, the Mighty Warriors to excel. We all want our national U19 football team, the Young Warriors to excel. We all want our national cricket team, the Chevrons to excel. We all want our national women’s cricket team, the Lady Chevrons to excel. We all want our national rugby team, the Sables to excel. We all want our national women’s rugby team, the Stables to excel.
“We must, as the people of Zimbabwe in our independent capacities, practice what it takes for our country Zimbabwe to win,” Shamu added.
Debating the same speech in the Senate, Senator Maybe Mbowa also called for unity among Zimbabweans
“The president showed that he places a lot of importance on the peace, security and unity of the Zimbabwean people, which currently exists in this country.
“He further stated that this peace and tranquillity helps us to remain united so that we can be able to achieve our Vision 2030 of being an upper middle income country. He went on to say that brick upon brick, we will build this country to attain our envisaged vision and nothing will stop us,” Mbowa said.
This comes as more and more people — including churches, respected analysts and western diplomats — have lately become vocal about the urgent need for dialogue to bring unity and lift Zimbabwe out of its current challenges.
