adminResident Minister Advocate Martin Dinha said last week that peace was everyone’s responsibility and a product of tolerance and respect for one another.
He made the remarks in Bindura while delivering a speech at the official launch of a Jomic billboard that promotes peace.
“Peace is our collective responsibility and mainly a product of tolerance and respect for one another,” he said.
“Society is made up of people from different and diverse backgrounds and naturally their reasoning and line of option differs.
“There is no way we can all think in a similar manner.
It is only understanding and respect for the person next to you that keeps us going in the same direction without bruising each other.”
Adv Dinha said the use of force to coerce someone to follow the direction of the other person could only bring war and disunity among the people.
“When we cease to respect the next person and force him or her into our line of thought, peace is broken and war begins,” he said.
“Co-existence rather than coercion brings us together.”
Adv Dinha urged members of the public to support Jomic in its efforts towards the promotion of peace.
He said the Jomic billboard, unlike other billboards, was not meant for commercial marketing, but was a symbol for peace.
Speaking at the same occasion, Officer Commanding Mashonaland Central police Senior Assistant Commissioner Lee Muchemwa said police were ready to work round the clock to ensure a peaceful environment in the forthcoming elections.
“We are ready to work hard in making sure that peace prevails in the forthcoming harmonised elections,” he said.
“As police, we will not hesitate to arrest all perpetrators of political violence regardless of one’s political party or status.”
Jomic was formed by the three political parties to the Global Political Agreement to monitor progress and ensure peaceful co-existence among supporters of the parties.
Online Reporter