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Political parties refuse to sign pledge against violence
06 Jun 2018 at 14:10hrs | Views
Zimbabwean political parties have refused to an electoral peace pledge by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.
NPRC held a meeting in Harare with political players last week and it has emerged that the motive was to get parties to commit to nonviolent conduct during elections by way of appending signatures.
The meeting was attended by 80 political parties out of the existing 134 registered with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Part of the pledge titled Zimbabwe Political Parties Pledge for Peaceful, Free, Fair and Credible Elections read; "we the political parties of Zimbabwe, fully cognisant of our Constitutional obligations to ensure that our elections are peaceful, free, fair and credible; desirous to promote national cohesion, unity, peace and stability, and recognising our primary responsibility, as leaders of political parties and of our candidates, members and supporters, to fully respect the democratic right of every Zimbabwean to freely choose their leaders in a peaceful and informed manner."
It is said parties refused to sign demanding their share of funding from the government.
"Despite the fact there the Political finances Act clearly states that only those political parties which garner five percent of the vote can be financed, some party leaders were calling on the state to find their activities," said a source.
Political parties headquartered in Matabeleland boldly declared that they will sign the pledge only when government shows some seriousness in addressing Gukurahundi genocide which claimed the lives of more than 20 000 people in the region.
NPRC held a meeting in Harare with political players last week and it has emerged that the motive was to get parties to commit to nonviolent conduct during elections by way of appending signatures.
The meeting was attended by 80 political parties out of the existing 134 registered with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Part of the pledge titled Zimbabwe Political Parties Pledge for Peaceful, Free, Fair and Credible Elections read; "we the political parties of Zimbabwe, fully cognisant of our Constitutional obligations to ensure that our elections are peaceful, free, fair and credible; desirous to promote national cohesion, unity, peace and stability, and recognising our primary responsibility, as leaders of political parties and of our candidates, members and supporters, to fully respect the democratic right of every Zimbabwean to freely choose their leaders in a peaceful and informed manner."
It is said parties refused to sign demanding their share of funding from the government.
"Despite the fact there the Political finances Act clearly states that only those political parties which garner five percent of the vote can be financed, some party leaders were calling on the state to find their activities," said a source.
Political parties headquartered in Matabeleland boldly declared that they will sign the pledge only when government shows some seriousness in addressing Gukurahundi genocide which claimed the lives of more than 20 000 people in the region.
Source - Byo24News
