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ZESN Election Update No.1
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
March 10, 2005

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is calling for zero tolerance to intimidation and political violence in the impending election. The organisation has since fielded 240 long-term observers in all the 120 constituencies around the country. In a bid to keep our members, partners and colleagues informed about the events and incidents happening around the country, this update will sought to give you brief updates from our ZESN's long-term observers, provincial coordinators, members and any other reliable sources within our networks. We hope the updates will also create a platform for debate and sharing of information.

This election comes at a time when Zimbabwe is still on the limelight from other member countries in the region. A lot of incidents were witnessed in the last two major elections, the 2000 parliamentary election and the 2002 Presidential elections. It is sad to note that some incidents of these last two elections still haunt and traumatize the electorate whilst on the other hand some events and petitions are still in courts.

However not wanting to talk so much about the last elections the prevailing atmosphere of peace and tranquility should continue and as ZESN we encourage all societal members to be actively involved in the maintenance of peace and a violence free election and post election period. Members of the public, contesting candidates and the media to desist from using hate language that incite violence in their reporting and campaigns.

So far we have received a few isolated incidents of violence in the campaign period for instance with both members from the main political parties, MDC and ZANU PF being arrested. As civic organisations with a mandate to promote democratic free and fair elections in Zimbabwe we re-emphasize our call for zero-tolerance of political violence. We commend messages from different authorities like President Mugabe and the police commission of denouncing violence. We hope every responsible citizen of Zimbabwe will take these messages seriously.

We believe that a culture of tolerance and respect of individual political affiliation has to prevail in a society so that democracy prevails, thus ZESN encourage this spirit of tolerance to continue in some parts of the country and in those areas where violence has been occurring and in these areas, people have to change their behavior and attitudes towards violence.

Media should play a key role in denouncing acts of violence and reports have not to be biased to one party and all perpetrators have to be brought to book, whether one is a prominent person or not.

However we demand the police to fulfill its role as the public protector, and ensure that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book and encourage the police to exercise its role professionally.

Produced by ZESN's Media and Information Department

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