By Taurai Mazwi
All citizens regardless of race, ethnicity and gender have been urged to cherish the culture of unity and peace which our living and fallen heroes fought for, the Harare Post can report.
This was said by President Emmerson Mnangagwa during his 40th Independence Day Celebrations address at State House today.
President Mnangagwa said, “Fellow countrymen and women, unity, peace, development and hard work must remain the landmark or our country. Violent disagreements and conflicts should never again be given leeway in our wonderful country.
“Let us cherish the enduring legacy and culture of unity and harmony, bequeathed to us by the late founding fathers and heroes of our great land. In addition, democratic principles, accountability, good governance, the rule of law and constitutionalism which the gallant heroes of our country fought for must be consolidated and entrenched.
President Mnangagwa further highlighted that the new dispensation will leave no one behind and commended the nation for maintaining peace during the national lockdown.
“The Second Republic is a Republic of rights, of peace, love, harmony, dialogue and of inclusive development which leaves no one behind.
“I would like to once again thank the nation for the collective response to our appeal towards our preparedness to fight the pandemic within our jurisdiction. I further commend the nation as a whole for the manner we have carried ourselves during this national lockdown.
“In unity, love and common purpose nothing can prevail against us. May this national character continue to grow and flourish,” he said.
He further encouraged citizens to uphold and defend the Zimbabwean culture and to never trade it in for anything.
“As a society let us always uphold and defend our culture, high moral standards, ethics and norms. Zimbabwe is a peaceful country. Zimbabweans are a law-abiding people. We must never trade in this character. Let us cherish peace, cultivate, maintain and defend it at the family, community and national levels,” he said.
Today marks the country's 40th Independence Day Celebrations and the celebrations were supposed to be held in Bulawayo Province which President Mnangagwa said would mark the beginning of a decentralised way of celebrating the day. However due to the Covid19 pandemic, the celebrations slated for Bulawayo had to be suspended to avoid gatherings that would increase the spread of COVID19, however people can celebrate this day in their homes with their families.
