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Mukudzei Chingwere Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe remains calm and peaceful following President Mnangagwa’s championing of a peaceful electoral process but the police are on high alert to quell any disturbances such as picketing polling stations, or illegal broadcast of polling results as some opposition elements may have been organising.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told a press conference yesterday evening that security forces were fully prepared to deploy throughout the election season and beyond in order to ensure peace.
Minister Kazembe said Government’s attention had been drawn to actions by ill-meaning elements who were recruiting youths to partake in what they are calling “defending the vote”, which means blockading polling stations, or are ready to communicate their own versions of results, something the Electoral Act reserves to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
The security forces remain vigilant, committed and determined to ensure that the prevailing peace and harmony was sustained and the Minister warned any would be illegal perpetrators wanting to threaten that peace to back down.
“I am pleased to note that, despite isolated undesirable and regrettable incidences of politically motivated violence witnessed in some parts of the country, the general security environment has been characterised by peace and tranquillity,” said Minister Kazembe.
“Nevertheless, as we approach the voting day, we have noted with concern, several threats to national peace and security emanating from the actions of some political actors, whose conduct and pronouncements are tantamount to inciting violence before and after the voting period.
“We have noted that, from the onset, His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has preached the gospel of peace, emphasising the need for all political actors to encourage their supporters to be peaceful. However, despite this clear call, some political leaders have chosen a different path, never at any time pronouncing themselves on the need to promote peace.
“Rather, we have witnessed clear threats of violence in the event of unfavourable results to some. The security forces are aware of machinations by some political leaders who are encouraging their supporters to picket around polling stations in the name of “defending their vote”.
“We also know that some political parties are currently recruiting youths from urban areas for deployment in some rural areas where they would co-ordinate these so-called “defend the vote” antics. This conduct violates Section 90 of the Electoral Act and Sections 8 and 10 of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act, which prohibit gathering around polling stations and any unauthorised congregations,” he said.
Minister Kazembe also noted that Government’s attention has also been drawn to yet another plan by some local and foreign organisations to illegally transmit and announce election results despite the law clearly stipulating that such an act is a preserve of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
In view of such plans, he said Government will not hesitate to deploy the necessary legal instruments to quell such actions.
“The security forces are also alive to efforts by some local organisations and their international partners to deploy illegal communication systems in order to unlawfully transmit and announce unofficial and fake election results.
“Anyone who intends to transmit, and announce election results outside the mandate of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has no good intentions for the country’s peace and security. As such, the transmission and publication of results by any person or body other than ZEC is unlawful, criminal and will be dealt with accordingly.
“We have also noticed unprecedented interest and unwarranted interference in internal political processes by some local actors whose activities endanger our national security. Some of these organisations have gone beyond observation and literally want to monitor and supervise electoral processes,” he said.
Despite having fully adhered to all constitutional provisions for the holding of free and fair elections, authorities have increasingly noted repeated attempts to undermine the country’s electoral process.
Government and all other constitutional bodies have however remained steadfast in making sure that Zimbabwe remains on the path to a free and fair elections with President Mnangagwa the biggest proponent of this blemish free process.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Dr Gerald Gwinji said the issuance of identity documents to Zimbabweans will continue.
“We have been carrying out vital documents provision exercises since last year, carrying out exercises in the community as well as the usual registrars’ offices scattered around the country, where people were able to get their IDs.
“Yes, there are some who lose obtained IDs and there are some who would perhaps want to do things in the last minute, but I can assure you that we have been working overtime. We have been working over the weekends. We have been working extended hours in order to take care of those who do not have identity documents.
“So, the exercise will continue, it is not limited to the duration of campaigning and the elections but it is an ongoing exercise,” said Dr Gwinji.
Online Reporter