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CZI president Mr Kumbirai Katsande in April called on leaders at every level to actively embrace and spread President Mugabe’s Independence Day celebrations message calling for a peaceful harmonised election expected to be held by July 31 this year.
The CZI boss implored leaders to spread President Mugabe’s word of peace before, during and after the forthcoming polls so that it reaches every home in towns and villages.
On Friday, Mr Katsande reiterated the message, saying business expected peace before, during and after elections, regardless of the timing of the plebiscite expected by July 31 2013.
“We continue to receive numerous enquiries concerning the timing of the general elections. Our position remains clear – we hope for peace before, during and after the elections. The time to celebrate will be when peaceful conditions prevail throughout. This important aspect should not be lost in the discussions surrounding the timing of the elections,” Mr Katsande said.
CZI is one of Zimbabwe’s biggest and influential industrial lobby groups. It had said earlier it was truly impressed and encouraged by the President’s call for peace and unity before, during and after the elections.
Zimbabwe goes for harmonised elections before July 31 this year following a recent order by the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe.
The country has already completed a new constitution, the supreme law that would provide the basis for the forthcoming plebiscite.
“He (President Mugabe) wisely chose this high-profile occasion (Independence Day) of our national independence celebrations, a time when the ears of the whole country traditionally listen to his address, to eloquently emphasise that peace and tolerance are essential for Zimbabweans to enjoy life in independent Zimbabwe,” Mr Katsande said.
He said the President’s call for peace during his speech on Zimbabwe’s 33rd independence celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in April this year was a “clear and wonderful message that we should remember the 33rd Independence celebrations for”.
Delivering his 2013 Independence celebrations speech President Mugabe warned the police would deal decisively with anyone involved in political violence, regardless of their political affiliation.
He urged rival political supporters to co-exist, adding that he receives weekly briefings on the socio-political environment from Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri every Monday.
CZI has on many occasions emphasized the need for peaceful elections, as this was critical to ensure the elections do not negatively affect the country’s successive economic growth momentum since 2009.
Government has managed to keep the economy growing at a blistering average growth rate of 7,3 percent since 2009 and projects 5 percent rise this year.
Among Government’s major achievements during the four-year period has been record low inflation, cutting it to deflation levels in 2009 and keeping it under 5 percent since and 2,76 percent last month.
Although still beset by many economic challenges, Zimbabwe, like many African countries, is among the fastest growing economies in the world, but has the added advantage of the lowest inflation.
Following almost a decade of macro-economic instability, the Government has managed to ensure supermarket shelves are refilled following increased industrial and agricultural production.
President Mugabe said the country’s four years of successive economic growth was ample evidence to its critics that “we have the resources in our land to lift our nation to greater heights”.
Online Reporter