adminThe messages from the political leadership, the judiciary and security forces is very clear that violence will not be tolerated when the country holds harmonised presidential, parliamentary and council elections this year.
President Mugabe has been at the forefront of calling for peaceful political processes in the country and urging Zimbabweans of different political persuasions to learn to co-exist.
Just last week the Head of State and Government told mourners at the burial of national hero Dr Landa John Nkomo at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare that it was the wish of the late Vice-President that the forthcoming elections and referendum were held peacefully.
President Mugabe has used many platforms to call for peace and these calls should be embraced by all in the country.
He has been joined by the police and judiciary in warning political party supporters against using violence to further the interests of their parties.
At the recent official opening of the new legal year, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku warned perpetrators of violence and called for peaceful and credible elections.
High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese has reiterated the warning by Chief Justice Chidyausiku and told politicians and their supporters that they should not expect any mercy from the courts as the country heads for harmonised elections expected to be held soon.
Officially opening the Gweru High Court circuit on Monday, Justice Makonese said the judiciary was ready to ensure that elections are held under a peaceful atmosphere that will help usher a new era of peace, national unity and stability.
“As the country steadily and slowly moves towards harmonised elections expected this year, it is hoped that the holding of successful elections shall usher a new era of peace, national unity and stability based on the establishment of firm democratic institutions.
“The judiciary stands ready to ensure that the elections are held under a peaceful atmosphere and any persons seeking to resort to any form of violence should not expect to be treated with kid gloves by our courts,” warned Justice Makonese.
Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has also been leading his officers in calling for peaceful elections and warning that police will brook no nonsense from political leaders and their supporters who engage in violence.
These undertakings by the political leadership and warnings by the judiciary and police should make politicians and their supporters who thrive on violent campaigns reform.
We have said it before and we repeat it here again that political contests should not be physical but should be fought on ideas, policies and programmes that a political party is offering.
Political campaigns should be centred on winning the hearts of voters and this should be done through selling your ideas and policies to the electorate.
We are encouraged by the unison with which the political leadership, judiciary and the police are speaking against violence. Zimbabwe is capable of holding a violence-free election because it has been done before. The March 2008 harmonised elections were largely peaceful with isolated cases of skirmishes. People were able to campaign freely and voted peacefully. Let us all heed the calls by our leaders to exercise restraint when engaging in political contests.
Online Reporter