War vets, churches censure violence

War veterans and church leaders yesterday strongly condemned the violence that engulfed parts of Harare on Monday and Beitbridge last Friday, saying only dialogue should be used to resolve challenges facing the nation.

The call for peace came as civic society organisations sought to blame Government for causing violence against evidence that rowdy elements destroyed property worth thousands of dollars in Beitbridge last Friday and on Monday stoned vehicles in Ruwa and Epworth, forcing the police to intervene to restore sanity.

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association secretary for information and publicity Douglas Mahiya, urged political parties to dissuade their members from participating in any violent activities that threaten people's lives, destroy property and promote looting during demonstrations.

"We, as the bedrock on which the Independence of this country is built, would like to put it clear to all sectors of society that while it is a constitutional right for disgruntled people to voice their dissatisfaction through demonstrations, it is not their right to infringe upon other innocent people's rights through destruction of their property, forcing anybody to commit acts of looting or anything that results in any confrontation with law enforcers," he said.

Mahiya said religious leaders should urge their members to engage in prayer and fasting for God to intervene.

"All people with influence over any sizeable groups of people should use their influence to avert any forms of escalation of violence," he said.

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations also added its voice yesterday, calling on all stakeholders to meet and map a way forward.

"As the church, we strongly believe that sustained dialogue provides the pathway towards resolving any challenges that we currently face. It provides the basis for peaceful engagement while respecting the diversity of all Zimbabweans," said the ZHCD.

"We hereby make an appeal for all concerned stakeholders to come together and agree to a commonly shared approach to the challenges that we are facing and enduring as a nation. We believe that everyone wants a Zimbabwe that is peaceful, prosperous and united.

"This is a Kiros moment for the nation to come together as one, be of one accord, with one mind and one spirit that of building the Zimbabwe we want. We say NO to violence! No to the destruction of property! No to the loss of life!"

The ZHCD comprises the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe.

The ZHCD appealed for restraint and tolerance, but underscored the need for people to respect the law.

"Citizens must air grievances using the frameworks provided by the law," said ZHCD.

Rowdy elements orchestrated a violent campaign which left property that included a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority warehouse destroyed in Beitbridge.

They ran riot blocking roads and looting shops, scenes that were repeated in Epworth, Mabvuku and other areas in Harare on Monday.

In Harare, rowdy elements disguised as kombi operators stoned vehicles, barricaded roads and attacked police deployed to restore order. The MDC-T came out in full support of the riotous behaviour of the demonstrators and called for more.

Civic society yesterday claimed the demonstrations were peaceful and apportioned blame on Government.

In a joint statement, they claimed: "As civic society we condemn in the strongest of terms the use of violence as a response to ordinary citizens airing their grievances with Government."

They went on to sing the old hymn - urging the police "to cease use of violence on peaceful protesters" and that the State must uphold "the rule of law and respect human rights".