Zanu-PF condemns violence

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
The Zanu-PF leadership here has roundly condemned violence caused by rowdy suspected MDC-Alliance hooligans in Harare on Wednesday, saying there was need for the nation to build on the culture of peace that was prevailing under the new dispensation.

This follows an orgy of violence in central Harare by suspected MDC-Alliance activities who burnt innocent people’s cars, destroyed and looted vendors’ wares.
The unfortunate incident left three people dead.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira yesterday said it was barbaric for a political party that participated in the just-ended polls, to engage in any form of violence when the presidential results were yet to be announced.
He proposed legal recourse to solve all electoral disputes saying violence was a sign of intolerance.

Cde Chadzamira urged supporters in the province to remain peaceful and calm to enable the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to continue with its constitutional duty of announcing results of Monday’s harmonised elections.

“We condemn political violence in all its forms and urge law enforcers to arrest perpetrators,” said Cde Chadzamira.
He said political parties should accept the result of the just-ended democratic election process and stop inciting their supporters to engage in political violence when things do not appear in their favour.

“We should wait for the final results from ZEC and stop disturbing the smooth conduct of the elections through engaging in violence,” said Cde Chadzamira.

“As Zanu-PF, we urge our supporters here (Masvingo) to remain calm and peaceful. There is no need to engage in violence, as we all belong to one nation and the process of elections will always have a winner and loser.”
Cde Chadzamira said violence negated efforts to make Zimbabwe a mature democracy.

“Violence tarnishes the good image of our country,” he said. “Let us all learn to be tolerant, as Zimbabweans and we hope we won’t experience the same here in Masvingo Province.

“It is totally unacceptable for anyone to torch, destroy and loot another person’s goods and property. My clarion call is for people in Masvingo to remain peaceful, especially our supporters in Zanu-PF.”

Zanu-PF bagged 25 out 26 National Assembly seats in Masvingo in the just-ended elections with the MDC-Alliance settling for the Masvingo Urban parliamentary seat and 7 out of 10 wards in the country’s oldest town.