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.
Labels: MUGABE, NATIONAL HEALING AND RECONCILIATION DAYS
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President, PM call for end to violence
Nyasha Perekwa/Reuters
Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:04:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Friday called for an end to political attacks, standing with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to start a prayer weekend for national reconciliation. He and PM Tsvangirai formed an inclusive Government in February this year.
"There are still reported cases of political violence and this must stop," President Mugabe said in a Harare hotel, standing alongside PM Tsvangirai in public.
"Let us move among the people... promoting the values and practice of tolerance, respect, non-violence and dialogue as a sustainable means of resolving political differences," he added.
About 200 lawmakers, government officials and diplomats attended the two-hour event to officially begin three days of national prayer for peace.
Religious leaders plan to lead a prayer service in a Harare stadium on Saturday, which PM Tsvangirai said will mark the start of efforts to find justice for victims of the violence that characterised the aftermath of the March 2009 elections.
"These three days of dedication must herald the beginning of a genuine, open and frank process... accepting responsibilities for the hurts and pains inflicted on so many Zimbabweans," said the prime minister, without blaming anyone for the violence.
"In addition to the three principles of truth, justice and forgiveness, we must openly discuss the issue of reparation," PM Tsvangirai said.
"While it may not be possible to undo what has been done, it is sometimes possible to assist the victims to move on and to rebuild a life that has been shattered," he added.
Analysts hailed the efforts at national reconciliation.
"What they have done today is just a start," said Takura Zhangazha, Zimbabwe director for the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
"Obviously the government is attempting to inculcate the culture of tolerance," he said.
Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, NATIONAL HEALING AND RECONCILIATION DAYS
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Mugabe dedicates 3 days to national healing, reconciliation
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
Friday, July 24, 2009 3:17:45 PM
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has declared today, tomorrow and Sunday as days of peace, national healing, reconciliation and integration. The three days will not be public holidays, but will be observed by Zimbabweans as days of peace and reconciliation.
"In the spirit of the Interparty Political Agreement, I do hereby declare, set out and dedicate the 24th, 25th and 26th July, 2009, as a period during which the nation may dedicate the Inclusive government, our newfound peace, our freedom, our new spirit of nation-building, National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration to inspire the nation going forward," President Mugabe declared in the Government Gazette Extraordinary dated July 15, 2009.
"(I) declare, set out and dedicate the 24th, 25th and 26th July 2009, as the appointed days upon which, consistent with the deeply-felt desire for freedom, peace, stability and prosperity by the millions of Zimbabweans at home and abroad, all the political parties, formations and factions within and without Zimbabwe, and espousing a Zimbabwean interest howsoever defined, publicly and honestly commit themselves, as indeed it is their constitutional and legal duty."
The President stated that the declaration was consistent with Article VII and Article XVIII of the Interparty Political Agreement, which promoted equality of treatment of all regardless of gender, race or ethnicity.
The Articles also require the inclusive government to put in place practicable measures to achieve national healing, cohesion and unity in respect of victims of pre- and post-Independence political conflicts; to create an environment of tolerance and respect among Zimbabweans from the Diaspora; as well as to assure personal security of all persons and prevent the resort to violence for purposes of settling any disagreements.
President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Professor Arthur Mutambara will lead Zimbabweans in observing peace and unity at a function to be held in Harare today.
Labels: MUGABE, NATIONAL HEALING AND RECONCILIATION DAYS
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24, 25, 26 July: National healing, reconciliation days
Nancy Pasipanodya
Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:34:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe Friday declared 24, 25 and 26 July as national healing and reconciliation days, part of efforts by a new inclusive Government to end a culture of political violence in the country.
He appealed to political parties and interest groups in the country to help government promote peace and political reconciliation, after a decade in which Zanu PF and the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change vied for power.
President Mugabe appealed to all Zimbabweans at home and abroad to publicly renounce, reject and report all forms of political violence as the inclusive Government moves to restore peace and stability in the country.
"In the spirit of the inter-party political agreement, I do hereby declare, set out and dedicate the 24th, 25th and 26th of July as a period during which the nation may dedicate the inclusive Government, our new-found peace, our freedom, our new spirit of nation-building, national healing, reconciliation and integration to inspire the country going ahead," President Mugabe declared in a special inter-party political agreement declaration Gazette.
The days will not, however, be marked as holidays.
Observers have blamed both parties for the politically-motivated killings in the run-up to the June 27 runoff presidential election.
The three Principals of the Global Political Agreement, President Mugabe, PM Tsvangirai and DPM Arthur Mutambara are expected to lead the nation in renouncing political violence in the best interests of National Healing.
President Mugabe implored the inclusive Government to ensure the safety return of all Zimbabweans desirous of returning from the Diaspora.
Traditional chiefs and faith based leaders at all levels have been requested to seek the cleansing of the land from the curse of conflict and bloodshed.
Chairperson of the Organ on National Healing John Nkomo warned all political activists inciting violence to stop the practice as the law will take its course without fear or favor on any found wanting.
Outlining the contents of Extraordinary Gazzette, the three co-ministers of National Healing, John Nkomo, Sekai Holland and Gibson Sibanda, spoke with one voice on the need for all citizens to take the 24th to the 26th July as a first step of a long and demanding journey to dedicate themselves to God in the country’s effort to build a peaceful Zimbabwe.
Labels: MUGABE, NATIONAL HEALING AND RECONCILIATION DAYS
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