OPPOSITION parties have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of public posturing and not being sincere in his call for peace ahead of general elections sometime this year.
They accused Mnangagwa of failing to rein in Zanu PF supporters for allegedly unleashing a wave of violence against their supporters in 2022, resulting in some fatalities.
In his New Year message on Saturday, Mnangagwa called on Zimbabweans to “continue being peace-loving and politically mature citizens” ahead of the elections.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) deputy spokesperson Felix Mafa Sibanda told NewsDay that there was no political will to end political violence.
“We think that it’s a public posturing. His party nicodemously encourages violence. On several occasions he called for peace but there has been contradiction, his followers have openly called for the death of CCC leader Nelson Chamisa,” Sibanda said.
In July 2022, Zanu PF member and cleric Abton Mashayanyika declared that CCC leader Nelson Chamisa and his family should be killed while addressing a Zanu PF rally in Mberengwa, Midlands province.
Mashayanyika is yet to be charged for the remarks.
“We lodged complaints against these people but nothing happened. So, we are very much surprised,” Sibanda added.
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“We feel that it’s a public or international gallery, but on the ground they are intensifying violence against members of opposition parties particularly CCC. What he said in public has no grain of truth. Zanu PF is encouraging total annihilation of opposition parties,”
Zapu spokesperson Mso Ndlovu said: “Whoever chooses to listen to the village witch’s sermon on the sanctity of life is next on her dinner table.”
Labour Economists African Democrats leader Linda Masarira urged Mnangagwa to take the lead in calling his supporters to order.
Political analyst Effie Ncube said: “Statements by the President, while welcome, are inadequate. What we need are practical and verifiable actions in pursuit of peace. Words only are meaningless and too weak to bring about the results we all want.”
“The perpetrators of violence are known and, therefore, if we are serious about peace we would start by decisively dealing with them and set an example that all are equal before the law,” Ncube added.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa could not be reached for comment.
