“People in the mountainous and remote Nerumedzo village in Bikita West, for example, do not have radios or television sets. They might not be aware that there was ever a Peace Indaba held by the principals of the three main political parties in the country.
“While it is highly commendable that President Mugabe, whose Zanu (PF) party members are notorious for unleashing violence on members of the former opposition MDC parties, condemned violence in all its forms, a lot needs to be done to ensure that such words of wisdom are implemented in the rural areas,” said Shoko.
“People were raped, maimed and killed because they had chosen their own leader in the 2008 election. I even lost a home and livestock in the violence that followed. The president knows the violence that may exist and we expect a taskforce to be set up to ensure the demilitarization of rural areas as well as joint meetings constituted by the leaders of the political parties at cell, branch, district and provincial levels to visit the rural areas to condemn violence.”
Shoko added that he expected the continuation of the peace and security offered by the police at the last rally held by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at Chibuku Stadium in Chitungwiza.
Post published in: News