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We would like to applaud the criminal justice system and other stakeholders for ensuring that perpetrators of the recent MDC-Alliance and civil society-sponsored violence, characterised by looting, vandalism of property and repudiation of other citizens’ rights, are being brought to book.
A number of accused persons have been appearing before the courts not only in Harare, but nationwide facing a number of charges following the January 14 to 16 forced shutdown of businesses and other day-to-day activities.
The courts are handing down deterrent sentences to everyone who is found on the wrong side of the law, the first convict being Kelvin Nyambiswa of Chivhu who was handed down a five-year jail term.
Yesterday, six men were found guilty of burning down a ZUPCO bus and car, and they got a cumulative jail term of 36 years, with the ring leader getting a seven-year jail sentence, for no one is above the law.
No political party is also mightier than the Constitution that should unify the people of Zimbabwe to ensure progress and development.
If the wheels of justice did not move in the face of the recent violent acts of destruction of property and lawlessness, what it would mean is that Zimbabwe is a lawless country, which it is not.
As the Judiciary does its part, we also call upon the other arms of Government — Parliament, the Executive and the Fourth Estate, the media, to ensure that normalcy returns and citizens work towards revamping the economy, and achieving Vision 2030.
President Mnangagwa has already condemned the violence pointing out that wanton violence and cynical destruction; looting police stations, stealing guns and uniforms; incitement and threats of violence is not the Zimbabwean way.
We hope that lessons are being learnt that while every citizen has a right to protest, as enshrined in the Constitution, that right does not breach other people’s rights, especially destroying people’s hard-earned property.
As Parliament resumes sitting today, we also hope that the challenges that the nation is facing will be debated holistically and in a mature manner. The debates should seek to find how best our differences can unite us, instead of pursuing the polarisation path. As the saying goes, united we stand, divided we fall and that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
The recent flux of violence has also created a negative perception on the international community, eroding the strides that the new dispensation efforts of engagement and re-engagement had made.
Like President Mnangagwa whose major thrust is unity, we should not give up as the police and courts do their job. As the President said recently, “What unites us is stronger than what could ever divide us. Let’s begin a national dialogue. Let’s put the economy first. Let’s put the people first.”
In the age of fake news, we hope that the Fourth Estate will rise to the occasion, and work with other stakeholders to rebrand the nation, and not become cheer leaders of the hooliganism and thuggery the nation witnessed a fortnight ago.
Online Reporter