Opinion / Columnist
Political parties should shun any form of violence
29 Dec 2015 at 13:50hrs | Views
Members of the People First project, a political cabal which is fronted by former Vice President, Joice Mujuru should stop purveying falsehoods about other political parties and start focusing attention on its party business.
There have been reports in the media that ZANU-PF supporters were violently attacking members of People First who were at a funeral in Chitungwiza recently.
What surprises me and most people is the direct blame on ZANU-PF supporters by the members of the People First project. What makes them so certain that the people who attacked them were ZANU-PF supporters? People First cabal should stop the blame game and make thorough investigation before tarnishing other political parties' image.
Surely, there are many political parties in Zimbabwe who can be caught up in such forms of violence. Why should members of People First point a finger on ZANU-PF supporters as if it's the only political party that exists in the country? I believe the revolutionary party is a mature political party which will never involve itself in acts of fighting.
Is it not common knowledge that opposition party led by Morgan Tsvangirai (Movement for Democratic Change) is the most violent party in the country? Before accusing ZANU-PF, People First project should make comprehensive analysis that has evidence in it.
If it is proven that ZANU-PF supporters are responsible for the violence at that funeral, then the law should be allowed to take its due course. Having said that, to the discerning eye, it was only a matter of time before the opposition political parties bug finally caught up with this association of political have-beens. This is the bug to stage manage violence with the vain hope of extracting mileage from blaming the ruling party, knowing well that the gullible private media and the west would run with the story as vindication of their baseless allegations. Already, the agenda is being set to ensure a manipulated political environment that could be used as a basis for discrediting the conduct of the 2018 polls in which the opposition forces are likely to be walloped again.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) should be advised to clamp down all acts of political violence currently taking place. Political violence negates existing peace, law and order in any nation hence, such forms of violence should be considered as an unacceptable instrument of coercion.
The police should therefore arrest all political violence perpetrators without being selective of any political party. The culture of impunity that may be deemed as encouraging political violence should never be allowed to take root in our country but should be discouraged by stringent enforcement of laws prohibiting such conduct.
Political violence has many negative effects, among them being the potential of scaring away investors who may want to do business in the country. Investors are enticed by working in a stable country with no forms of political fights. A stable, peaceful environment is conducive for business operations. Surely, if political violence is left unchecked, our nation will cease to develop as foreign investors will abandon us for other countries.
Political environment must not be muddled by violence. In other words, political violence will not solve any dispute. Instead of pointing fingers at each other, political parties should settle their disputes through dialogue.
It is imperative to note that political violence does not only affect or decay the moral values which are noticed through death or permanent injuries, but it also hampers social and economic development of a nation.
From a scholarly point of view, Howell (2004) noted that political violence militates against the consolidation of democracy and social coexistence. This in turn impacts on the social and economic well being of the nation and creates imbalances in social relations.
Any form of violence is counterproductive, and for that reason, security forces should not allow violent intra as well as inter-party violence within political circles.
It is essential for leaders of political party to go down to their grassroots and inculcate a culture of tolerance while enlightening them about the dangers of political violence. Dialogue is the panacea to all disputes and there should be zero tolerance to political violence.
There have been reports in the media that ZANU-PF supporters were violently attacking members of People First who were at a funeral in Chitungwiza recently.
What surprises me and most people is the direct blame on ZANU-PF supporters by the members of the People First project. What makes them so certain that the people who attacked them were ZANU-PF supporters? People First cabal should stop the blame game and make thorough investigation before tarnishing other political parties' image.
Surely, there are many political parties in Zimbabwe who can be caught up in such forms of violence. Why should members of People First point a finger on ZANU-PF supporters as if it's the only political party that exists in the country? I believe the revolutionary party is a mature political party which will never involve itself in acts of fighting.
Is it not common knowledge that opposition party led by Morgan Tsvangirai (Movement for Democratic Change) is the most violent party in the country? Before accusing ZANU-PF, People First project should make comprehensive analysis that has evidence in it.
If it is proven that ZANU-PF supporters are responsible for the violence at that funeral, then the law should be allowed to take its due course. Having said that, to the discerning eye, it was only a matter of time before the opposition political parties bug finally caught up with this association of political have-beens. This is the bug to stage manage violence with the vain hope of extracting mileage from blaming the ruling party, knowing well that the gullible private media and the west would run with the story as vindication of their baseless allegations. Already, the agenda is being set to ensure a manipulated political environment that could be used as a basis for discrediting the conduct of the 2018 polls in which the opposition forces are likely to be walloped again.
The police should therefore arrest all political violence perpetrators without being selective of any political party. The culture of impunity that may be deemed as encouraging political violence should never be allowed to take root in our country but should be discouraged by stringent enforcement of laws prohibiting such conduct.
Political violence has many negative effects, among them being the potential of scaring away investors who may want to do business in the country. Investors are enticed by working in a stable country with no forms of political fights. A stable, peaceful environment is conducive for business operations. Surely, if political violence is left unchecked, our nation will cease to develop as foreign investors will abandon us for other countries.
Political environment must not be muddled by violence. In other words, political violence will not solve any dispute. Instead of pointing fingers at each other, political parties should settle their disputes through dialogue.
It is imperative to note that political violence does not only affect or decay the moral values which are noticed through death or permanent injuries, but it also hampers social and economic development of a nation.
From a scholarly point of view, Howell (2004) noted that political violence militates against the consolidation of democracy and social coexistence. This in turn impacts on the social and economic well being of the nation and creates imbalances in social relations.
Any form of violence is counterproductive, and for that reason, security forces should not allow violent intra as well as inter-party violence within political circles.
It is essential for leaders of political party to go down to their grassroots and inculcate a culture of tolerance while enlightening them about the dangers of political violence. Dialogue is the panacea to all disputes and there should be zero tolerance to political violence.
Source - Peacemaker Zano
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