ZANU PF, MDC-T and MDC youths in Bubi, Matabeleland North Province, have pledged to shun violence before and during the forthcoming elections.
Report by Nqobani Ndlovu
The youths from the three political parties said they will also not tolerate politicians who plan to bribe them with money to lead violent campaigns.
This emerged from a joint political parties youths meeting organised by the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) on Monday in Bubi.
“We are saying we should not be tricked by politicians again to conduct violent campaigns against each other or our parents as we approach elections,” Vumani Herbert Hadebe, a Zanu PF youth leader in Bubi, said in his address during the Jomic meeting.
“We are saying that we will never be used again by politicians in our respective parties in exchange for money or goodies. We should tolerate and respect each other’s choice to support different political parties.”
Kelvin Masuku, an MDC-T youth leader in the same area, weighed in saying youths should report to Jomic politicians who pay them to lead violent campaigns.
“Politicians are the ones who usually pay us to lead violent campaigns,” he said. “We should report such politicians to Jomic and Jomic should take action against them. We should refuse to be used by these politicians because at the end of the day, we are all Zimbabweans.
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“We should have different opinions, but we should not be made enemies by our politicians.
“We also ask Jomic to organise joint political party sports tournaments so that we continue engaging each other as we have done today.”
Leslie Ncube, a Jomic liaison officer representing Zanu PF, urged youths from the three parties to walk the talk on non-violence towards elections.
“Politicians will deny ever knowing you once you get arrested for political violence,” he said. “You will be left in the cold to rot in prison.”
The country holds a referendum on March 16 while elections are expected in July. Principals in the inclusive government have urged their followers to shun political violence.
However, Botswana President Ian Khama was quoted last week doubting Zanu PF’s sincerity towards a non- violent election.
