News / National
JOMIC urged to investigate of political violence
14 Jun 2013 at 07:50hrs | Views
The MDC-T provincial chairperson, Wilstaff Sitemere has called on the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) to investigate cases of politically motivated violence and intimidation across the province as the country braces for the watershed polls.
Sitemere made the call at a JOMIC inter-party meeting held in Masvingo town on Wednesday. The MDC-T provincial chairperson said it was crucial that JOMIC investigate cases of intimidation and violence being reported across the province so that the province is not rocked by any form of political violence.
The meeting was to raise awareness about the code of conduct for political parties.
He said some traditional leaders were causing havoc in the rural areas by threatening villagers with eviction if they do not show allegiance to Zanu-PF.
"Some known traditional leaders are threatening villagers in the rural areas and it is my hope that JOMIC will act on the matter because we have received numerous reports of intimidation and threats of violence coming from traditional leaders," he said.
"These issues have to be addressed before elections because some traditional leaders are defying the very tenets of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Although we have received few reports about inter-party violence we are still very much concerned about the role being played by some traditional leaders in drumming up support for Zanu-PF and threatening villagers. We hope JOMIC is going to quickly act on the matter," said Sitemere.
He called on the police to be objective in handling political issues adding that law enforcement agents were too eager to please Zanu-PF by thwarting MDC-T activities and the will of the people in choosing freely people who will represent them.
"The police have an obligation to serve the interests of the public regardless of political affiliation but this has not been happening because the police are afraid of confronting Zanu-PF supporters who break the law while they have a knack of flexing their muscles on MDC-T supporters," he said.
Sitemere made the call at a JOMIC inter-party meeting held in Masvingo town on Wednesday. The MDC-T provincial chairperson said it was crucial that JOMIC investigate cases of intimidation and violence being reported across the province so that the province is not rocked by any form of political violence.
The meeting was to raise awareness about the code of conduct for political parties.
He said some traditional leaders were causing havoc in the rural areas by threatening villagers with eviction if they do not show allegiance to Zanu-PF.
"Some known traditional leaders are threatening villagers in the rural areas and it is my hope that JOMIC will act on the matter because we have received numerous reports of intimidation and threats of violence coming from traditional leaders," he said.
"These issues have to be addressed before elections because some traditional leaders are defying the very tenets of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Although we have received few reports about inter-party violence we are still very much concerned about the role being played by some traditional leaders in drumming up support for Zanu-PF and threatening villagers. We hope JOMIC is going to quickly act on the matter," said Sitemere.
He called on the police to be objective in handling political issues adding that law enforcement agents were too eager to please Zanu-PF by thwarting MDC-T activities and the will of the people in choosing freely people who will represent them.
"The police have an obligation to serve the interests of the public regardless of political affiliation but this has not been happening because the police are afraid of confronting Zanu-PF supporters who break the law while they have a knack of flexing their muscles on MDC-T supporters," he said.
Source - Byo24News
