The United Nations International Day of Peace is commemorated on September 21. This “Peace Day” provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace. In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal. The UN Resolution suggested that: “Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace.”
As Zimbabweans commemorate ‘Peace Day’, it is a year after the global political agreement (GPA) was signed on 15 September 2008. This deal was supposed to bring peace to Zimbabwe. The United Nations theme this year is: Better than a thousand empty words is ONE WORD that brings peace. The GPA contains 6,567 words but we are yet to see if these words really stand for peace. Because we are still waiting for peace, WOZA and MOZA members decided to choose a theme that shows the politicians how they can bring meaning to their words: Our theme: Social Justice will bring Peace of Mind
What does PEACE mean to us. It is peace that allows us to LIVE and to feel dignified. These are the social, economic and political promises of the GPA. WOZA and MOZA have a very simple way of explaining SOCIAL JUSTICE – it is the ‘BREAD and ROSES’ we always talk about. When we talk of ‘bread’, we mean basic commodities and ‘roses’, our rights and equal opportunities delivered and protected by a constitution which houses laws that we have written.
The power sharing government must prioritise social justice if they can deliver PEACE OF MIND to Zimbabweans. We ask the United Nations to intervene so that the following issues are URGENTLY attended to for our PEACE OF MIND.
1. The power sharing government must STOP the harassment of vendors and ordinary Zimbabweans by POLICE – we all need PEACE OF MIND. The GPA promised retraining of Police – when is this going to start?
2. Please could the UN intervene to urgently investigate the chaos in the education system. How can we have PEACE OF MIND when our children’s education is sacrificed for political gain?
3. It is a daily worry of how we will cope with illness because we know the state of our hospitals – we need PEACE OF MIND to remain well. Please could the UN intervene to reorganise the health system. Even in death Zimbabweans cannot rest in peace – The mortuaries are overflowing and rats are feeding off our loved ones bodies.
As we commemorate Peace Day we are desperate to write our own constitution and are impatient to attend the consultation meetings; we are praying that our words will be respected when the final draft is written. WOZA and MOZA will mobilise against any attempt to fast track the Kariba Draft. We are no longer interested in negotiating – we demand a new constitution that includes:
• The clear separation of powers and independence of the judiciary
• A shorter term of office for the executive and a maximum age of 65 years
• Dual citizenship – a constitution that protects right to citizenship
• The following rights guaranteed by law: equality in all forms; right to education, health, housing and shelter, right to language and culture and caters for disadvantaged groups.
This is our Prayer for Peace Day 2009:
Lord Almighty; watch over your children as the enemy of peace strikes. Hold back the intention and action to harm and destroy your creation. Lord, touch the heart and mind of the doer, to feel guilt and stop at once. Lord, hear our prayers and serve our nation. Amen