admin
Political parties that intend to participate in the forthcoming harmonised elections should borrow a leaf or two from Zanu-PF which has taken seriously the issue of ensuring that there is no violence before, during and after the elections. Aspiring candidates that wish to contest the forthcoming elections on the party ticket have been made to sign a code of conduct which compels every aspiring candidate not to engage in any acts of violence or entice his or her supporters to engage in such acts.
The strict code of conduct disqualifies any candidate who sponsors political violence. According to the code, aspiring candidates are required to declare their commitment to non-violent conduct during the polls. The code of conduct document signed by aspiring candidates wishing to contest the elections on the Zanu-PF ticket reads in part: “. . . I do hereby pledge to abide by the party’s conditions and rules governing primary elections of 2013. I further pledge to conduct primary election campaigns in a peaceful and honourable manner and not denigrate the party in any way. I undertake to ensure that all those supporting me will also engage in a peaceful and honourable manner and not denigrate the party in any way. . .”
Zanu–PF by addressing the issue of violence at its primaries is trying to nip the problem in the bud. What we have seen over the years is that violence start at parties’ primary elections and MDC-T has already witnessed a number of violent clashes at its primaries forcing it to postpone primaries in some constituencies. It is this culture of violence which if not addressed early will result in the deaths of people during and after elections as witnessed in Kenya.
People belong to political parties and if all political parties embrace peace, they will make the job a lot easier for the police whose mandate is to maintain law and order all the time. The police have already pledged their commitment to ensuring that there is peace before, during and after the elections but as already stated, their efforts should be complemented by political parties. The other political parties should emulate the example set by Zanu-PF of ensuring aspiring candidates are made accountable for the conduct of their supporters.
President Mugabe has repeatedly urged Zimbabweans to refrain from engaging in violence. Last Thursday when he announced that elections will be held on 31 July, Cde Mugabe once again appealed to Zimbabweans to campaign and vote peacefully. He said peace and tranquility should be exhibited as the country welcomes visitors and participants to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly to be held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone in Zambia on 24-29 August. Cde Mugabe said Zimbabweans should shame the country’s detractors by adopting a bold stance against violence.
We want to urge leaders of other political parties to also speak strongly against violence even during their own primary elections. What leaders of political parties or aspiring candidates should realise is that they cannot coerce people into voting for them but should instead persuade people to vote for them. Parties should market themselves through their manifestos which outline what they intend to do for the electorate once voted into office.
The Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration on its part has come up with code of conduct to guide political parties ahead of the harmonised elections. The code of conduct which has already been embraced by the three parties in Government, holds parties accountable for the conduct of their supporters. The three political parties in Government, Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC have hailed the code of conduct which the three are agreed is part of efforts to promote peace ahead of the elections.
We want to once again urge leaders of political parties to ensure that they do not only preach peace but that those who dare engage in violence are dealt with decisively. The leaders should infact work closely with the police so that those that decide to engage in violence are immediately locked up.
Online Reporter