Let’s correct wrong turns that we took, Mugabe tells Zim leaders

Let’s correct wrong turns that we took, Mugabe tells Zim leaders
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
Sunday, July 26, 2009 4:51:16 AM

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has said he and his fellow Zimbabwean leaders must correct wrong turns that the country has taken from time to time. Speaking at an event marking three days of peace, reconciliation and national healing in Harare last Friday, President Mugabe said Zimbabwean leaders had not always lived up to their responsibilities.

"Regrettably, we have not always lived up to our responsibilities as leaders . . . We need to correct certain wrong turns we have taken as a nation, from time to time," President Mugabe said.

The event, that was held at Rainbow Towers Hotel, was attended by the diplomatic community, religious leaders, government officials and parliamentarians.

President Mugabe called for unity in the country, which is recovering from a chapter of politically-motivated violence in which more than 100 people died in last year's elections.

"So we gather here today to say no, and no more to the insensitivities that are in our midst," he said. "Today, that voice of unity, that lilting sound calling us to reach out to a shared vision, calls again. We have been brought together by the voices of our forebears and compatriots who are crying out from the wilderness where they fell during the historical inter-clan and inter-tribal conflicts. Unity, reinforced by reconciliation and comradeship, is surely the solid mortar that can bind our nation and strengthen it against any divisive forces or machinations, internal and external. We should never lose sight of the fact that not everybody wishes us well."

President Mugabe said while the international community had an advisory role in conflict resolution, the supreme obligation was for Zimbabweans to resolve their own problems.

"We have continued to maintain that it is our responsibility to find our own ways of resolving our problems...We are also brought together by our desire to close ranks as Zimbabweans in order to protect ourselves from those external institutions and interests which always look for opportunities to divide and tear us apart as a people. Their unabashed aim is to weaken us so that they can easily gain access to our God-given heritage of natural resources," President Mugabe said.

He thanked the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and former South African president Thabo Mbeki for helping establish peace in Zimbabwe by facilitating the inter-party talks that culminated in the signing of the global political agreement.

President Mugabe challenged all civil society organisations to take a stand not to promote the use of violence, intimidation or coercion.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who formed an inclusive government with President Mugabe in February this year, and most of whose party supporters suffered the violence, said political retribution would only perpetuate violence

"Zimbabwe has suffered so many phases of trauma, upheaval and conflict that there must be agreement on defining the scope of the healing process," Prime Minister Tsvangirai said. "If these days of national dedication are to herald the start of a genuine process of national healing, then we, as leaders, must make an unequivocal call to all our people and to all our supporters for an immediate cessation of violence, persecution and lawlessness."

Prime Minister Tsvangirai said the unity among top leaders had not yet cascaded to the lower ranks, fuelling mistrust and suspicion.

"While there is co-operation and communication at the top of the political spectrum, this is not cascading down the party structures, fuelling the fires of distrust, disrespect and disregard for the commitments that we have made to rebuild our nation, write a new people-driven constitution and hold free and fair elections," Prime Minister Tsvangirai said.

Deputy Prime Minister Prof Arthur Mutambara said the election violence of last year, which resulted in the murder of political activists, and the torture of tens of thousands, should never be repeated.

"As we seek to reconcile our people, let us find ways of institutionalising a shared value system. Mr President, Mr Prime Minister . . . let us work together to put an end to violence. If we do not, it will put an end to our civilisation," he said.

Prof Mutambara said the national healing programme should not fail because doing so would send Zimbabwe back to violent days.