The commemorations, which were held under the theme ‘Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future’ at the Large City Hall, saw performance of the nationally acclaimed stage musical Gri-Eshe, which is an ensemble consisting of artistes including Jeys Majahawodwa ‘Kozekulunge’ Ndlovu, Black Umfolosi, Umdumo Wesizwe, Willis Watafi and Family Voices. The main highlight of the event was a play performed by Gwanda theatre group Jahunda Community Arts called “1983, the years before and after which delves on the issue of the Gukurahundi massacres and how Zimbabweans need to confront the truth about that sad period and heal from it through forgiveness and reconciliation.
The commemorations were held with the aim of bringing residents together encourage them to engage peacefully in all matters that affect them be it politically, economically, socially or culturally. The event was hosted under BPRA’s Residents Building Peaceful Communities Project that aims at instilling a culture of peaceful coexistence among residents in Bulawayo regardless of differences in political persuasion, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity. As part of the project, the association has held various community dialogue meetings and leadership fora that have brought together residents’ leaders, political party representatives and church leaders to discuss issues to do with peace building and reconciliation in Bulawayo.
The International Day of Peace was initiated by the United Nations (UN) in September 1981. The occasion has since been declared by the General Assembly of the UN as “a day devoted to strengthening the ideal of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.”