4
The 1987 Zimbabwe National Unity
Accord and its Aftermath:
A Case of Peace without Reconciliation?
Terence M. Mashingaidze
Introduction
When Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980, socialism was dominant in
the Third World and the ruling party embraced this doctrine as its
governmental ideology. Socialism was viewed as the most appropriate method
for achieving socio-economic equity, justice and prosperity. The recently ended
war had caused massive destruction of infrastructure and the population
had swelled beyond the capacity of the existing facilities. In the aftermath of
the struggle for independence, the government had to move fast in dealing
with the popular demands that informed the struggle. Anyang’ Nyong’o
(1987:18) aptly noted that:
It was observed that the appropriate response to popular demands was
developed; that development could be planned for; that planning essentially
involved the optimum utilisation of available domestic and foreign resources
to achieve certain growth targets; and that for the majority of popular
masses to benefit, these growth targets had to be in the rural areas, hence
rural development.
All sections of society were to contribute to development under the tutelage
of the socialist state. The immediate post-colonial era witnessed phenomenal
growth. Many schools, clinics, veterinary and crop marketing facilities were
constructed, uplifting the standard of living of the general populace. However,
in the political arena, the dispensation that emerged had no room for diversity.
Zeleza (1997:412-13) observed that:
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