All parties free to campaign anywhere- President Mnangagwa

Zaka (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Sunday all political parties were free to canvass for votes anywhere in the country ahead of next month’s general elections, but underlined the need for peaceful campaigns.

The country will hold combined presidential, parliamentary and local government elections on August 23 to select new representatives for the next five years.

Addressing over 120 000 ruling Zanu-PF party supporters here, President Mnangagwa said peace and unity were a prerequisite for development, hence the need to preserve these in the upcoming elections.

Since assuming office five years ago, he has consistently called for national unity across the political divide, saying differences were far outweighed by what united Zimbabweans.

“We love peace, we love peace. We preach peace, we preach unity, we preach harmony, we preach love under one national flag, under one national anthem. We are one people,” President Mnangagwa said.

“Every political party is allowed to campaign wherever they want, but must do so peacefully, uniting people and not dividing people,” he added.

He said no nation can develop in disunity and mired in violence, and therefore it was incumbent upon all political and other leaders to ensure peace and harmony prevailed at all times.

President Mnangagwa said it was pleasing that, so far, the election campaign has been peaceful with no inter-party violence reported.

“The first thing which is most important for the development and growth of our country is the keeping of peace, we want peace. Since we began this (election campaigns), there is peace throughout the country,” he said.

He added: “We want peaceful election campaigns before, during and after this harmonised elections. We are a peaceful people, we do not accept hate speech. We accept people may have different views, that is expected, that is democracy because we – Zanu PF – brought democracy, independence and sovereignty to Zimbabwe. We are the masters of democracy.”

In past elections, the opposition often stirred up electoral violence to use it to question the outcomes of the polls if they lost.

President Mnangagwa, who is seeking a second term in office, said a Zanu-PF win in the elections will see a continuation of the fast-paced economic and social development the country has witnessed in the last five years.

This includes expansion and development of new economic and social infrastructure such as roads, dams, hospitals, schools and greenfield power and energy sources.

New Ziana