by Gift Mashoko

The gospel of peace and unity continues to be President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra ahead of the 30 July elections which have generated unprecedented interest from both the local and international scenes.

 Addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters at the Mutare rally on and to Zimbabweans at large on Friday, President Mnangagwa reiterated the need for a peaceful election and unity within the country saying these were the ingredients for a prosperous Zimbabwe.

“We can only build Zimbabwe if we are united. Ngatiparidzei shoko rekubatana, rekusimudzirana, rekuumbana kuti nyika ibudirire,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said the Church was also preaching the same peace and unity and that this is a culture which must be upheld.

“Churches are preaching peace and unity, the culture we want in Zimbabwe. A culture of respect and helping each other,” he said.

President Mnangagwa has called upon the Zanu PF supporters to unite and live in peace and harmony with the opposition party members. He implored them to accommodate international election observers who were in the country. He added that Zimbabweans must show them that they were a peaceful nation.

“Kana vekune mamwe mapato vakauya vapei mvura yekunwa vazorore, movapa nema avocado vodya voenda zvavo,” he said

“Tine ma International Election Observer pakati pedu, vasiyei vaite zvavanoita musavakanganisa. Varatidzei kuti tine runyararo,” he said.

The call comes with just a few days left for the country to hold the do-or-die harmonised elections. The elections will be the first to be held without former president Robert Mugabe who ruled the country since independence in 1980. The elections will be featuring new protagonists with Nelson Chamisa representing the MDC Alliance following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai who died in February this year.