'Craft 2023 elections peace pledge'

THE National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) has urged the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) to ensure that a peace pledge is implemented before the watershed 2023 polls in order to curb electoral violence.

In its Transitional Justice Watch released yesterday, NTJWG said the first step would be to ensure that political party leaders demonstrate commitment to peace during elections.

"Given the 1 August violence witnessed in 2018, and despite the signing of a peace pledge, the NPRC needs to explore other avenues to foster commitment to peaceful elections in 2023," the NTJWG said.

"The NTJWG implores the NPRC to work — not just with political parties in its efforts to encourage peaceful action — but to also include civil society, other independent commissions and the public in its programmes."

NPRC spokesperson Obert Gutu said the peace pledge used during the 2018 elections would be improved and used during the 2023 elections.

"The peace pledge is a project that involves Zimbabweans pledging to uphold peace during the election period. It was first established in 2018, but it involved only political parties that intended to participate in the elections.

"We want to use the same framework from 2018, but make it bigger and more successful as we now have some experience. This time we want to take it down to the people. We want everyone to own the process," Gutu said.

He said consultations were already underway with all relevant stakeholders, political parties, regional organisations, labour unions, employees and federations to ensure that the peace pledge reaches the grassroots.

"We want it taken to all the 63 districts and 1 948 wards or so in Zimbabwe so that all Zimbabweans know of the peace pledge and identify with it. The peace pledge is not an elite pact for politicians vying for power, but it is for all of us.

"People should also recognise that elections are not an event but a process, and peace should not be only there on election day, but throughout as everyone loves peace. We are planning on observing the International Day of Peace as part of the build up to the peace pledge. It is a global programme but we have customised it with a national commemorative theme to promote inclusivity and build peace so that we teach all Zimbabweans the importance of peace and shunning of violence as a preparation for the peace pledge," Gutu added.