Mashonaland Central was one of the most politically volatile provinces during the 2008 elections in which the MDC-T claims that about 200 of its supporters were murdered by youth militia and war veterans.
“We are telling people that what we did as political parties in 2008 should not be repeated. As a party, we are telling our people, especially the youths that if you engage in violence, the law will take its course and we will not be involved,” said Tauro, speaking in an interview on the side-lines of a Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee Mashonaland Central Special Political Liaison Committee meeting held here last Tuesday.
Tauro, who is also his party’s co-Chairperson for JOMIC in Mashonaland Central, said political violence had adversely affected Zanu (PF’s) performance in elections. He emphasised that the party had taken a firm stance against the setting up of torture bases where most MDC-T supporters were tortured during the 2008 elections.
“We are doing away with torture bases. We are denouncing violence as it has been affecting the performance of the party during elections. In a nutshell, we are saying that any youths engaging in violence are not associated with the party,” said Tauro.
President Robert Mugabe is on record preaching peace and political tolerance ahead of the next elections, but some analysts have doubted his sincerity claiming Zanu (PF) has a culture of preaching peace during the day and practicing violence in the night.
“We are also engaging village heads and chiefs in the fight against political violence and we have been telling them to report such cases so that the law takes its course. We also urge all the political parties to preach the gospel of peace to their supporters,” added Tauro.
His sentiments were echoed by the Zanu (PF) youth provincial chairperson for Mashonaland Central, Godfrey Tsenengamu who said the party had reformed from its violent nature of 2008.
“The Zanu (PF) of 2013 is different from the Zanu (PF) of 2008. Saul was saved and he became known as Paul so don’t continue to think we are still called Saul. We are now called Paul. We urge youths out there to desist from violence. If anyone engages in violence, we will not be associated with them and they will face the full wrath of the law,” said Tsenengamu.
JOMIC last week told the media that cases of political violence had gone down in Mashonaland Central and expressed optimism about a peaceful election.
Last November, an ex-Central Intelligence Officer, Obediah Dodo, was arrested together with an Assistant Inspector with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Collen Musorowegomo, after publishing a document exposing state sponsored violence in Bindura during the 2008 elections.
The document titled “Political Intolerance, Diversity and Democracy: Youths Violence in Bindura Urban, Zimbabwe”, identified the Central Intelligence Organisation, the army, police and the Zimbabwe Prison Services as urging youths in Bindura to engage in political violence between 1999-2011.
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Everson Tauro’s message should reach every part of the country of Zimbabwe and above all be implemented. The law forcing agents, such as the police should be on the forefront and see to it that all people involved in political violence should be arrested. Preaching only without action is of no use. Every influential ZANU-PF should show by deeds that they are no longer “Saul†but “Paul†carrying and spreading the peace loving message to every Zimbabwean irrespective of party affiliation. Give enough room for people to make their choices by voting freely the government they wish without fear or favour. Brutalizing MDC supporters by the army should be talk of the past. In Mutoko, Chirehwa area, soldiers used to go around terrorizing villagers just because they voted for Morgan Tsvangirai. Instead we should have Zimbabweans enjoy the freedom to vote for the candidates of their choice. Hence our forth coming elections should be in line with the Guidelines and Principles Governing Democratic Elections agreed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In addition let us have international observers, in particular those from SADC in Zimbabwe, to monitor the elections and to judge the political context in which the elections are being held, not just the electoral process itself but also should publicly, promptly and clearly condemn failures to uphold regional and international standards.