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Heal the nation
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
September 19, 2008

Zimbabwe is a country that is thirsting and yearning for healing. A country whose history and heritage has been marked by the continued spilling of its children's blood. A country that is in dire need of peace and restoration. Over the past decades, there has been intense conflict amongst Zimbabweans which perpetuated unprecedented levels of violence and mistrust. The period after the March 29 general election saw the country engulfed in an orgy of violence and political conflict which left many innocent civilians, including children, maimed with some losing their lives. To some, violence became a way of life, a way of doing things.

The world commemorates the International Day of Peace on September 21, which, according to the UN is a 'day of global cease fire and non-violence through education and public awareness'. This day is particularly important to Zimbabweans as it coincides with the signing of the agreement between the MDC and ZANU PF parties which took place on the 15th of September as a final resort to ending the political, economic and social crises that the country has been battling with for more than a decade.

By signing the deal, Prime Minister designate Morgan Tsvangirai, his deputy, Professor Arthur Mutambara and President Robert Mugabe provided a glimmer of hope and a strong foundation for national healing and reconciliation in a nation torn apart by political polarization and animosity.

As Zimbabwe moves into a new epoch, there is need to unite and work towards developing the country. However, for peace to reign, the incumbent government must realize that there is need to bring to account perpetrators of political violence and crimes against humanity. Only then will peace prevail. It is also important for Zimbabweans as a whole to build values around political tolerance and co-existence where one is free to show their political affiliation. This will undoubtedly contribute to the fostering of peace, which is fundamental in any democratic society.

'It is not enough to talk peace, one must believe it. And it is not enough to believe in it, one must work for it.' Eleanor Roosevelt

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet

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