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Youths petition political parties over violence

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Youths in Mashonaland West province have lobbied politicians to stop violence and build capacity for conflict mediation and resolution as the country trudges towards elections. The youths from the three main political parties in the inclusive government Zanu PF and the two MDC parties as well as youth-related organisations, last week converged at the Catholic […]

Youths in Mashonaland West province have lobbied politicians to stop violence and build capacity for conflict mediation and resolution as the country trudges towards elections.

The youths from the three main political parties in the inclusive government Zanu PF and the two MDC parties as well as youth-related organisations, last week converged at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Chinhoyi for a two-day workshop running under the theme Love Peace, Love Zimbabwe.

It was noted there was a continuous trend of the outbreak of politically-motivated violence before, during and after elections.

In a joint petition handed to Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC, the youths said: We call for the political leaders of Mashonaland West to create networking opportunities for young people and dialogue across political parties and build capacity on conflict mediation and resolution.

We demand stiffer penalties for perpetrators of violence and also to strengthen the enforcement mechanism. We appeal to community leaders to hold peace campaigns so as to raise awareness and build tolerance.

Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson John Mafa, Chinhoyi MP Stewart Garadhi (MDC-T) and MDC provincial chairperson Tagwireyi Ngwenya, among other party top officials, joined the youths clad in their respective parties regalia, and distributed flyers bearing peace messages to residents of Gadzema township and in the central business district.

Mafa said: This is a positive initiative to unify our youths and we hope they take it seriously so that we eradicate violence as enunciated by (leaders of the parties in) the inclusive government, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube.

Garadhi added: Elections should not be a time for bloodletting and people have to embrace tolerance and political diversity and our youths are preaching just that.

MDCs Ngwenya weighed in: This is a milestone achievement in bringing people of different political persuasions together in this political hotbed of Mashonaland West, where Zanu PF has been the dominating party over the years.

Event conveners, Centre for Youth Empowerment and Development Trusts coordinator Henry Muwungani described the event as a first of its kind and would be used as a launchpad for future peace-building programmes.

Participants were drawn from the provinces six districts, namely Makonde, Kariba, Kadoma, Chegutu, Zvimba and Hurungwe.