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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Parties
urged to refrain from use of violence during and after elections
Murewa
Community Development Trust (MCDT)
February 09, 2008
We would like to urge
members of the two main political parties, ZANU PF and the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) whose members have been involved in
inter and intra-party violence in previous elections to exercise
restraint in the impending harmonized elections.
The Murewa Community Development Trust (MCDT), a grassroots-based
organization advocating for the right to development within Murewa
community calls for political party leadership to lead by example
and to rise above the politics of coercion as opposed to consent.
The people of Murewa community and indeed the entire country have
been subjected to extreme forms of violence instigated by the youths
and other groups. We do not expect to see the setting up of the
so-called "bases" for butchering political opponents
as happened during the previous elections. In both 2000 parliamentary
and 2002 presidential elections, the people of Murewa, particularly
women were subjected to torture, intimidation and rape. At the height
of this violence and intimidation, more than a dozen schools were
closed as teachers were chased away by thugs.
We call upon
the police to exercise their duties in a professional and non-partisan
manner, consistent with the Zimbabwean Police Service Charter which
underscores the need for professional conduct. The ZRP has already
done a good job to deploy members of the force to different parts
of the country but MCDT feels a lot still needs to be done to stop
those who want to occupy public office through rape and violence
and not through fair competition. In the past elections we have
also witnessed cases of youths who have been used against professionals
like teachers and nurses after which they are paid through opaque
beer and money. This must stop in the 2008 elections. We hope that
all parties and independent candidates will be able to conduct their
campaigns and sell their election manifestoes to the electorate
without being subjected to any intimidation.
In the following weeks, MCDT shall hold a series of community peace
building meetings with civic leaders, political candidates and citizens
before and after the elections. A free and fair election is one
of the hallmarks of democracy. We urge all political contestants
to form inter political party liaison committees and agree on acceptable
behavior at local level so that we deal with cases of political
violence at a grassroots level.
E-mail: murewacommunitytrust@gmail.com
Tel: +263 912962381
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