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of the people. If they are doing some injustice, you have the right to complain right up to the highest hierarchy,” he said.
The President said Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri told him that they were sometimes barred from meetings by political parties.
“I told VaTsvangirai that is the explanation I got from the commissioner-general. Munoti toita musangano wedu hatidi mapurisa. You need the police to stand around, but not to interfere.
“You never know what can happen, but do not fight them. Please, do not fight the police.”
President Mugabe said political parties needed the police when holding meetings because there could be violence among their supporters.
“We just cry that there is violence, let us get down to grips and find who is doing it,” he said.
“It must be our people at some level of our parties.”
Mr Tsvangirai said law enforcement agents should take national responsibility seriously.
EARLIER REPORTS ON VIOLENCE
“I urge the police to be non-partisan and to arrest everyone and anyone who commits acts of violence, even if they are MDC,” he said.
“By the same measure, I hope that the police will arrest perpetrators of violence, even if they are Zanu-PF.
“State agencies, especially the police, must protect the people and not harm them.”
Prof Ncube said State agencies should help political parties end violence.
“I believe that security structures should work towards helping us achieve this vision of a peaceful and tolerant Zimbabwe,” he said.
The three political leaders implored members of their parties to desist from violence.
Political violence has rocked parts of Harare and Chitungwiza in recent weeks, prompting the party leaders to arrange the meeting with top executives.
President Mugabe said it was surprising that people were failing to co-exist when they were able to forgive whites who committed atrocities during the liberation struggle.
“The struggle was for each son and daughter of the soil to be free,” he said.
“Today, I am in this brown suit, my neighbour is in navy blue. He has chosen not to put on a tie, I have a tie on. All these are descriptions of us. Take them off and we are naked Zimbabweans. All of us are alike. We are the same.
“So, wear your Zanu-PF coat, wear your MDC coat, you are still Zimbabwean. If you are Zimbabwean, you are entitled to all what other people are entitled to. The good, the land and most of all the life.”
President Mugabe said people should be allowed to freely make choices.
He said youths should be trained to be peaceful.
“The issue may not be really the one that maybe resolved at your level, it requires that you assist the parties in getting down to the village,” said President Mugabe.
“We should recognise each other as Zimbabweans. You and I worship the same flag, we sing the same national anthem, we enjoy the same nationality.
“You must be proud. It’s your own country and you have the right to choose your political party.”
President Mugabe said political differences should not be turned into hostilities.
“Hostilities no. Enmity no,” he said.
“Opposition yes, differences yes. Let us walk the talk of peace.
“Let’s spend our energy building our country. My only stance where I would say yes we are entitled to use violence is in defence of our country. Imperialism never, never again, yes we take our swords.”
President Mugabe said people should not be forced to attend political meetings.
“People who come because you drive them violently will not be your followers,” he said.
“Do not stand in the way of those holding meetings. Should politics be much of an issue as to distinguish us one from the other?”
President Mugabe said there was also intra-party violence, especially during primary elections.
Mr Tsvangirai said political violence should be consigned to dustbins.
“We meet here as leaders of political parties because we have the power to influence our constituencies, to tell our followers to shun violence, to pursue peace and to engage in civilised political campaigns with neither violence, intimidation nor coercion,” he said.
“Violence is a collective national shame because one does not necessarily have to shed blood to convince people to follow and believe in their politics.”
Mr Tsvangirai said there cannot not be prosperity and development without peace.
“As we trudge towards the next election, we must all pray for peace in the country, peace in the homes, peace in the communities and peace among the political parties,” he said.
“This programme must cascade down to the lowest structures, the branch and the cell, so that we have our people at that level preaching non-violence and tolerance.”
Prof Ncube said supporters of parties in the inclusive Government did not believe that the leaders were sincere about ending violence.
But he said on the contrary, the leaders abhorred violence.
“I can say without any fear of contradiction that Tsvangirai, Mugabe and I are sincere that we must have zero tolerance to political violence in our country,” said Prof Ncube.
“Our challenge is to convince our members that we are indeed sincere and we mean it when we say it must stop.”
Prof Ncube said the sincerity of the leaders to end political violence was evident in the creation of structures to deal with it.
Online Reporter