Zanu-PF declares zero tolerance for political violence perpetrators

ZANU-PF does not tolerate any form of violence during the election period and those found engaged in acts of violence will face the full wrath of the law and be expelled, the party’s deputy secretary for legal affairs, Cde Fortune Chasi, said yesterday.

In an interview on the sidelines of the peace pledge signing ceremony of political parties that are participating in the August 23 harmonised elections in Gweru, Cde Chasi said the ruling party detests violence.

The Church in Zimbabwe, through the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, (ZHOCD), comprising the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, (EFZ), the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, (ZCBC), and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, (ZCC) hosted the Midlands provincial peace pledge signing ceremony in Gweru for political parties who are contesting in August 23 harmonised elections.

This is a follow up to the national peace pledge, which was signed in Harare on August 4. Political parties that participated in the signing ceremony include Zanu PF, MDC T, UZA, ZCPD and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

“On our part as Zanu PF, we have made it very clear to our members that the errant ones that decide to take the law into their own hands and engage in acts of political violence will have only themselves to blame,” said Cde Chasi.

“They should not look to the party for any form of assistance except that once investigations by the ZRP have been carried out and we are satisfied as to the identity of the individuals concerned, if they are members of our party, the necessary disciplinary machinery will be unrolled resulting in the ultimate punishment that can be given to such people who will face expulsion from the party,” said Cde Chasi.

He said as a party, Zanu PF has observed that there is general peace in the country adding that there have been isolated instances of people engaging in violence.

“But we also recognise that in all those instances it occurs, it is not necessarily the political position of a particular party, no political party is able to control each and every member of its party across the country,” said Cde Chasi.

“But I am sure that you yourselves have witnessed that there is general peace. The events that have occurred where we have had property destroyed and at least one live lost is regrettable.”

Cde Chasi said the ruling party was delighted that the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs are handling the matters of concern well and carrying out the necessary investigations.

He said the peace pledge signing ceremony represents an agreement by political parties in the country to recognise that violence is counterproductive and an evil that needs to be weeded out from the society.

“This is a process that we started working on in 2018 and we continue to build on that effort because all of us recognise the importance of peaceful elections and the importance of each individual to express their political will without undue interference from anybody,” said Cde Chasi.

“So, we are going around the country signing in the major cities to ensure we send the correct signal to our supporters. We have done Gweru today and we are deeply excited and have shown the public that we are working together as Zimbabweans and we are interested in holding peaceful elections.”

Dr Josiah Makombe who is CCC interim Midlands provincial chair, commended the church and its partners for coming up with the peace pledge.

“We are going for elections only, we are not in a war and we want peaceful elections and now the coming in of the bishops and the church to say let’s sign this pledge. We are excited and will make sure that our members know about this pledge so that we approach this election peacefully,” he said.

Mr Brian Dube of MDC T said there was life after the elections. “An election is an event that comes and goes and the supporters remain members of a community who need each other. There are also no winners during an election. The real winners are the electorate who would have voted for a candidate of their choice,” he said.

ZCC president Bishop Dr Ignatius Makumbe said there was only one Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans and therefore the need to guard it jealously by shunning violence, which leads to damage of property and unnecessary loss of lives.

Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) secretary Mr Godwin Phiri said there is nothing better than bringing the people of Zimbabwe together in unity of purpose for the socio-economic growth of the country.