THE Organ of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) has launched a peace film – Two villages apart – aimed at fostering unity and correlation among the Zimbabwean community that has for long been polarised along political lines.
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Speaking at the launch of the film in Harare on Monday, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo applauded the producers of the film, Tagline Film Producers, saying the use of art was a very effective way of peace building.
“I cannot imagine if there is a better way of communicating to us and speaking to our hearts and minds than the use of film, movie or art,” Moyo said.
Shot in rural Guruve, the film is about two villages that that have become heavily polarised due to the political violence that characterised the 2008 general elections. The feud resulted in the death of some villagers in political fights and neither the headman of the villages and the subjects could see eye to eye.
Despite the signing of the Global Political Agreement between President Robert Mugabe and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2009, the villagers failed to forgive each other for the past violence that resulted in the razing down of homes.
It took a sick and retired international cricketer, Shingi, to unite the two villages through sport. That, however, was not an easy task as the skeptical villagers at first mounted a spirited resistance, headed by the village heads and youth leaders.
But when Shingi finally succumbed to a heart failure two months later, the village had been united and one after the other at his funeral, they praised the late for bringing unity among them when they thought it was not feasible.
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The film seeks to persuade all Zimbabweans from the political divide that it is possible to forgive each other and work together for the good of the country, according to the producer, Donald Mabido.
Also speaking at the launch of the film, Minster of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Miriam Chikukwa urged the national healing organ to extensively distribute the film, free of charge, throughout the country to ensure that peace and unity prevails. She said peace was key to national development.
