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(NEWZIMBABWE) JOMIC presses leaders on violence

JOMIC presses leaders on violence
04/06/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

PARTY leaders must back their calls against political violence with concrete action and “immediately” hold joint rallies to help end clashes between their supporters across the country, Jomic officials have said.

The call by Jomic – the committee which monitors the GPA - follows last week’s disturbances in Mudzi where violent clashes between MDC-T supporters and Zanu PF rivals resulted in the death of an MDC-T activist.

Both President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have called for an end to political violence but they are yet to hold the joint rallies promised by their parties as part of efforts to calm divisions.

Addressing a press conference in Harare Monday Jomic national committee members said the GPA principals must “walk the talk” to help end political violence.

Said Tabitha Khumalo of the MDC-T: “It’s now a trend that whenever the word election is mentioned, violence erupts. Elections do not mean war. It is about campaigning and selling your party’s ideology and there is no reason to fight.
"Our principals should move in quickly and work with various stakeholders to avoid more shedding of blood."

Frank Chamunorwa (MDC) added: “If they (leaders) are all genuine in their calls to end political violence and if it is not grandstanding then they should go to all corners of the country instructing, preaching peace and persuading their members to desist from violence.

“It is high time they stand up and walk the talk than just denouncing it through the media. The principals are a key component if we are to take information to the grassroots levels.

“Yes, they might denounce violence at public gatherings but remember people are in all parts of the country and there will be sense in it if they visit all the 10 provinces.”

MDC-T activist Cephas Magura, 60, was allegedly stoned to death after clashes broke out between MDC-T and Zanu PF supporters attending rival rallies at a Mudzi business centre. Seven people have since been arrested and will face murder charges.
Chamunorwa said the police did not helped matters by allowing the parties to hold rival rallies at the business centre at the same time.

“Our police is one of the best in the world but I am surprised that in some cases they book two political parties at the same venue at the same time despite the fact that they know how polarised the environment is,” he said.

“Some police officers are overzealous and they masquerade as entities on their own without following the protocol.”

Zanu PF’s Jomic representative Oppah Muchinguri said political parties should also engage their provincial structures and local leaders such as chiefs as part of the campaign against violence.

“It’s high time stern action be taken against those who incite or are involved in political violence. Let us quickly trace the history of this violence and find ways of dealing with this issue of individualism,” she said.

“What happened in Mudzi is a peculiar and disturbing situation and we are calling on all stakeholders including MPs, councillors and chiefs to dissuade people from engaging in violence.

“Murder and violence should be dealt with and the onus is on us to engage as many stakeholders as possible. We should speak one language and condemn whoever and whichever political party is involved in violence.”

Labels: GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT, JOMIC, POLITICAL VIOLENCE

posted by MrK @ 4:37 PM