National Peace And Reconciliation Council {NPRC} has urged all political parties in Zimbabwe to desist from political violence and “hate speech” as the country heads into 2023 harmonized elections.
Political violence always resurface across the country when the nation is about to hold harmonized elections with Zanu Pf and MDC claiming to be the most affected parties.
Recently, MDC Alliance leader advocate Nelson Chamisa claimed that he was attacked in Masvingo and Manicaland by what he suspected to be Zanu Pf youths and supporters, however Zanu Pf denied the allegations labelling Chamisa as “mad”.
Speaking during a Harare metropolitan provincial peace committees meeting held in Harare today, NPRC Acting Chairperson Mrs Lillian Chigwedere said political parties and everyone across the country should promote peace and shy away from violent elements.
“As a Commission let us heed the calls from all corners of the country for Zimbabweans to unite, reduce polarization and minimise hate speech even on social media.
“As members of the commission we should be the first to counter such speech and promote love, respect our value of Ubuntu, celebrate our differences and affiliations. We should be the first to condemn divisive political and resource- based conflicts and facilitate closure to past national conflicts,” she said.
The NPRC call for peace comes after fears that is if hate speech and violence continues the country may also experience what happened in August 2018 presidential elections, where reports of violent abuses on the streets of Harare by uniformed soldiers indiscriminately fired live ammunition at people who were protesting the delayed election results.
The 2018 post-election reports said state security forces continues to commit serious violations, including violent attacks, abductions, torture, and other abuses against the political opposition and civil society activists.
All these alleged human rights abuses were necessitated by political violence and hate speech hence as the country heads towards 2023 harmonized elections the call for peace by NPRC is a major milestone.
