|
Back to Index
Let's
eradicate all forms of violence
Zimbabwe
Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
October
13, 2006
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=21&id=7700
THE Zimbabwe Civic
Education Trust (Zimcet) would like to applaud the passing of the
Domestic Violence
Bill and the formation of the Anti-Domestic Violence Committee
which will ensure that domestic violence problems are under constant
review and monitor the application and enforcement of the proposed
law.
Incidents of violence
at all levels have been on the increase and it is heartening to
note that the government is waking up to the call to end that trend.
However, more needs to be done to address the situation on a macro
level especially by the law-enforcement agents. A case in point
is the brutal assault of labour leaders while in detention over
a demonstration which has since been described by President Mugabe
as illegal.
Zimcet strongly
believes that police brutality (legalised violence) cannot and should
not be condoned no matter what the reasons might be or who defends
it.
Although the labour
leaders have been demonised for hiding behind the façade
of championing the people’s cause, it should be noted that nothing
is politically right which is morally wrong. There is nothing criminal
in speaking out in a democratic society; people should have the
right to freedom of expression without fearing recriminations from
the state.
Political parties
have also been found wanting on curbing violence within their ranks
and structures.
One minister was
dragged before the courts to answer violence charges against a fellow
party cadre in Makoni District. The complainant, who is a war veteran,
was attacked for challenging the minister in the Zanu PF primary
elections in 2004.
The Movement for
Democratic Change’s factions have also been rocked by allegations
of violence against each other. The assault of Trudy Stevenson of
the pro-senate faction immediately comes to mind.
As a peace-building
organisation, Zimcet therefore calls on the policymakers and the
citizens of Zimbabwe to step up the campaign against violence and
declare zero-tolerance against violence.
The passing of
the Domestic Violence Bill is a step in the right direction and
the momentum should not slacken towards eradicating all forms of
violence.
Visit the ZIMCET fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
