Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has urged Zimbabweans to embrace peace before, during and after the crunch 2023 general elections.
Chiwenga who is also the minister of Health and Childcare said this last week Wednesday when he officially launched the Zimbabwe Trafficking in Persons National plan of Action.
Speaking at the event he said, “As l conclude my remarks, allow me to remind you that we will be conducting harmonised elections about mid year. In that regard l urge us all to uphold the clarion call for peace, unity, love and harmony prior, during and after elections.”
Recently, police spokesperson Assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi told journalists in Harare that political parties must shun hate speech during their campaigns.
“Political parties need to lead by example and preach the gospel of peace in whatever they are doing, we dont want double standards,” he said.
Despite Chiwenga’s clarion call for peace, violence remain a pandemic, whenever Zimbabwean heads towards elections.
In 2018, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa who was then the leader of MDC Alliance twitted that the opposition had won the presidential election.
Chamisa declared his party the winner of the popular vote and accused the election commission of preparing “fake presidential results.”
Former finance minister and current opposition politician Tendai Biti said Zanu-PF was attempting to interfere “with the people’s will,” and warned the party not to “plunge Zimbabwe into chaos.”
This resulted in protesters gathering in several points throughout the capital, many planning to march on the election commission headquarters. Protesters reportedly started small fires in the streets, and police retaliated with water cannon and tear gas.
Not long after, troops were deployed to dispel rioters and six people reportedly died.
Last year during the by-elections campaigns in Kwekwe violence also erupted.
On 27 February 2022, a machete-wielding gang appeared at Mbizo 4 shopping centre in Kwekwe, where the CCC was holding a political rally.
The gang’s efforts to prevent people from attending the rally soon turned violent. Mboneni Ncube, a 30-year-old man and supporter of the CCC, died after being stabbed, while at least 22 others were seriously injured.
The gang allegedly used not only machetes but also beer bottles, iron bars, spears and bricks to attack supporters while Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the CCC, was giving a speech.
On 26 February, Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, sent a warning to the CCC, saying the ruling ZANU-PF party would “crush the party like lice”.
Above all these dreadful skirmishes, Zimbabwe will hold the 2023 general elections this year on a date to be announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.