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at district level tasked with identifying causes of political violence early.
Jomic held the first induction workshop for Harare with participants drawn from Zanu PF and the two MDCs.
Addressing the participants in Harare yesterday, MDC national organising secretary Mr Qhubani Moyo who is also a member of Jomic, thanked all parties for participating.
“As Jomic, we’re creating liaison committees at district level that will cascade down to ward level and their establishment is meant to give early warning of politically motivated violence. We want to work with people on the ground as they know each other in the communities they live in – hence the need for these liaison committees,” said Mr Moyo.
He said the committees would be made up of members of political parties, the police, civic organisations and churches.
Mr Moyo called for honesty and transparency between members of the committees in order to achieve the best results.
“Ordinary people should also know the ‘point man’ representing a particular political party in these committees as well as other members,” he said.
Mr Anderson Chiraya of the Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration said the committees would play a role in national healing.
“We would like to encourage members of the liaison committees against politically motivated violence to look at root causes and also provide support for victims and survivors.
“Zimbabwe should not be a violent State or for her people to have a violent culture,” said Mr Chiraya.
He said the organ would soon be holding an all stakeholders workshop for national infrastructure of peace from provincial and district levels.
Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Emelia Moyo, who was standing in for Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, told the delegates that they had a right to make complaints against the police.
“Members of the public have a right to make complaints against the police, but we’ve noted that most of these complaints have gone unreported. I’d also like to challenge members of the liaison committees against politically motivated violence to join our neighbourhood watch committees,” said Snr Asst Comm Moyo.
She reiterated that the police had a zero tolerance to any forms of violence and would arrest perpetrators irrespective of their political affiliation.
Snr Asst Comm Moyo also urged the committees to work hand in hand with crime consultative committees in their respective areas.
Online Reporter