ZIMBABWE is once again hogging the global limelight in the wake of escalating political violence ahead of the August 23 polls.
The death of an opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporter on Thursday has further heightened global interest in the country which has made headlines each election time when violence visits the southern African nation in a crude way.
Tinashe Chitsunge, a CCC supporter, was killed while fleeing from a Zanu PF mob in Glen View 7.
CCC leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy was also reportedly attacked on the same day by suspected Zanu PF supporters in Mutasa district, Manicaland province after addressing a rally there.
The United States embassy in Zimbabwe condemned rising cases of political violence, which is ironically coming hard on the heels of repeated calls for peace from across the political divide.
“We urge all political actors to uphold peace in words and actions. Citizens should be allowed to campaign peacefully. Say No to violence. #VoteInPeace,” the embassy said in a statement.
A coalition of civil society organisations, the Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Southern Africa (BOCISCOSA), called on the Southern African development Community (Sadc)’s intervention to stop the violence.
“BOCISCOSA calls on Sadc to take a lead in condemning politically-motivated acts of violence and to ensure that there is protection of human rights in our region,” they said in a statement.
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“No one should be subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment. We are concerned with the Zanu PF attacks on opposition party members and call for immediate action by the Government of Zimbabwe.”
In a statement yesterday, police said they had arrested 10 people in connection with Chitsunge’s death.
Government also said perpetrators will be brought to book.
“Police will do their job and whoever is found on the wrong side of the law will face its full wrath,” the Information and Broadcasting ministry said in a statement.
Yesterday, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said government was concerned about the emergence of pockets of violence across the country.
He said Chitsunge’s death was regrettable.
“My ministry has directed the Commissioner-General of Police [Godwin Matanga] to arrest perpetrators of violence without looking at one’s political stature, status, identity or financial muscle,” Kazembe said. “Therefore, all malcontents who want to damage the image of the country and discredit the forthcoming elections will have themselves to blame.”
However, Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) blamed authorities for failing to act on cases of human rights abuses.
“The rise in cases of political violence over the past few months have been a direct result of the failure of our national institutions, particularly the police, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to deal decisively with human rights abuses, violence, hate speech and intolerance as they are mandated to do by the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” HZT said in a statement.
“The inaction of these institutions in the face of violence and human rights abuses is a serious abdication from duty that has emboldened and aided perpetrators as they act with impunity, while putting hundreds of citizens in harm’s way with neither justice nor protection.”
HZT called on police through its special investigative committee to investigate Chitsunge’s death as per their mandate in terms of the Electoral Act and section 219 of the Constitution.
“We demand that Zec together with the Multi-Party Liaison Committee and law enforcement agencies to enforce the Electoral Code of conduct for political parties, candidates and other stakeholder to end violence, bring perpetrators to justice and allow all political actors the freedom to conduct their activities,” HZT added.
Meanwhile, political parties yesterday signed a peace pledge ahead of the polls at an event held in Harare organised by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD).
ZHOCD head Never Muparutsa urged political parties to desist from violence and respect the rule of law.
“Sadly, we have heard that violence has reared its ugly head in some parts of the country,” Muparutsa said.
“I implore the political parties, I plead with our candidates; let’s not cause God’s children to fight each other. We can vote in peace. We have a life after elections.”
CCC deputy secretary for elections Ellen Shiriyedenga told NewsDay Weekender that opposition supporters have been forced into hiding fearing for their lives.
“Yes, we signed the peace pledge, but the question is on whether people are going to implement it,” Shiriyenga said. “Our supporters are being beaten, threatened and harassed. They are not campaigning freely. Some are even scared and they are hiding in the mountains because of Zanu PF.”
Zanu PF politburo member Fortune Chasi said the ruling party was committed to ensuring peace and tolerance.
“As a party, we are going to ensure that the pledge gets to the lowest levels in the party and that we conduct ourselves as reflected by the peace pledge,” he said.
