Harare (New Ziana) – As Zimbabwe heads towards what some have described as “crunch” general elections likely to be held in July this year, calls are growing for political parties to co-exist and ensure peace before, during and after the polls.
In recent years, elections have been marked by incidents of violence since Western countries started sponsoring opposition politics as they sought to remove the sitting government and replace it with pliant leaders that would protect their economic interests in the country.
In their desperation to have their proxies in power, Western countries have been giving opposition political leaders large amounts of money to buy their party hoodlums alcohol and drugs which influence them to engage in violent behaviour to tarnish the elections and the country.
The violence has become institutionalised in the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, formerly the MDC Alliance, that ugly scenes have become a characteristic of almost all its gatherings as factional fights tear the outfit apart.
This has resulted in the police being reluctant and often refusing to grant the CCC permission to hold campaign rallies, as authorities fear that these would degenerate into violent orgies, which result in injuries and destruction of property, and even deaths.
Last Sunday, violent scenes erupted at Nembudziya Government Primary school in Gokwe, the Midlands province, when suspected CCC supporters allegedly attacked some ZANU PF members who were on a voter mobilisation exercise.
On the same day, other violence scenes were also witnessed at Chivi open grounds in Masvingo where the CCC was holding another campaign rally.
In June last year, several Chitungwiza families were left counting their losses after CCC supporters went on a rampage destroying everything in their way, including vehicles, houses and tuck shops after allegedly being incited by party deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala, who is also Zengeza West legislator.
The alleged incitement took place during the funeral wake for Moreblessing Ali who had been killed by her lover, but whose death the CCC alleged was politically motivated.
Sikhala was later arrested and is now battling for his freedom, with the courts denying him bail on grounds of alleged propensity to commit crimes.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken advantage of many platforms to denounce political violence, saying those caught on the wrong side will have themselves to blame as the long arm of the law will deal with them once caught.
However, his warnings seem to be falling on deaf ears as political violence cases seem to be increasing, with fingers always pointing at the Nelson Chamisa-led CCC party.
In a bid to nip the practice in the bud, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has embarked on a number of programmes aimed at ensuring the upcoming and future polls are held in a peaceful environment.
NPRC spokesperson, Obert Gutu said the commission was conducting workshops throughout the country capacitating its provincial peace committees on the best ways to prevent or handle conflicts in communities.
He said the commission was emphasising that elections come and go, but neighbours remain together and still want to co-exist regardless of their political affiliation.
“Communities should learn to tolerate one another regardless of their political differences. As Zimbabweans they should also remember that there is a lot that unites them than what divides them,” he said.
ZANU PF director of information, Tafadzwa Mugwadi concurred with Gutu on the need for political party supporters to respect each other and to desist from violent conduct.
He blamed some opposition party leaders, especially the CCC, for failing to rein in their supporters, but instead stoking the flames through hate speech.
His CCC counterpart, Fadzai Mahere called on relevant institutions and agencies to ensure that violence was contained in the country.
“The Constitution makes it the obligation of the Police Service to protect lives and property and to investigate crime,” she said.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission have constitutional mandates to eliminate political violence and establish mechanisms to ensure it doesn’t recur,” she added.
Midlands State University lecturer, Professor Nhamo Mhiripiri said political players should have respect for human life and humanity when fighting for political office, and not resort to dirty tactics to win voters.
“We need politics with humanism. Whatever competition is there, there should be competition with decency, competition with respect to human life. Any assault, whether physical, emotional or psychological is uncalled for,” he said.
“So a new culture needs to be cultivated and the political leadership itself should be the ones that should state clearly that there is no room for violence,” he said, adding that anyone caught engaging in it should be made an example under the law to deter them from such behaviour in future.
With a few months left before the much-anticipated elections, it remains to be seen whether the numerous voices preaching the gospel of peace and tolerance will be heard, and the country will witness a trouble-free plebiscite this time around.
New Ziana
