Harare — ZIMBABWEANS yesterday commemorated National Unity Day, a special day marking the unity achieved between Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu, the two liberation movements that brought independence to Zimbabwe.

This is the 21st anniversary of the signing of the unity agreement, when on December 22, 1987, the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, Cde Mugabe, and the president of PF-Zapu, the late Dr Joshua Nkomo, appended their signatures to a three-page document that opened a new chapter in the history of our country.

We view the unity achieved between the two liberation forces as one of the greatest things to happen to this country after independence in 1980.

It united those who fought for the liberation of this country and indeed brought national unity and peace.

The commemoration of this day will remind us and our children about the history of this country.

Sadly, we are celebrating National Unity Day on the back of a relentless onslaught by enemies trying to reverse the hard-won gains of our country's independence.

There is today more pressure from outside and within to divide Zimbabweans and create an environment for regime change.

We now see sinister manoeuvres by rebellious elements in our midst who wish to see the Unity Accord dead and have been working day and night to revive PF-Zapu.

It should be made clear that a few disgruntled elements must not be given any room to reverse national unity, which has brought peace and harmony in this country.

The biggest challenge is that complacency on the unity agreement has been allowed to creep in and grow to its highest level in a long time.

We, therefore, urge the ruling party to guard against this wane in enthusiasm on the Unity Accord, which President Mugabe termed at the time of signing as the fulfilment of an "expensive and dear dream" for the vast majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

At the time of the signing of the unity agreement, the late Dr Nkomo also bemoaned suspicion and selfishness among certain individuals, whom we today see making attempts to revive PF-Zapu.

The objective of these misguided elements is to erode the support of the ruling party, particularly in Matabeleland.

Zimbabweans must be reminded that the Unity Accord did not die with Dr Nkomo, but was instead enhanced by his death.

We concur with Cde Mugabe's call to forge national unity by rejuvenating the party machinery and cultivating organisational enthusiasm right from the grassroots level.

Unity eliminates tribalism, regionalism and ethnicity in the country.

It is only when united that individuals, the community and the nation at large can focus on development and achieve their goals. It is our belief that the threat posed by outsiders and local rebellious elements is sufficient unifying force, which should keep Zimbabweans inseparable.

Let us all jealously guard national unity as we stand to gain when the country is united.