Addressing hundreds of villagers at the funeral Israel Hananda last week on behalf of Sub-Chief Mavedzenge, Nyoka urged aspiring political candidates to campaign peacefully to ensure that they maintain the community’s developmental gains made so far. Hananda, the MDC-T Chairman for Ward 12 in Shurugwi North, died after a long illness.
Traditional leaders have over the years been accused of being Zanu (PF) sympathisers, with most of them having actively campaigned for the party. Chiefs have denounced all other parties and villagers known to be supporting them have been victimised. Some have been threatened with expulsion.
However, according to the recently adopted new Constitution, the powers of traditional chiefs have been clipped, where they are no longer allowed to publicly support any political party.
According to Chapter 15: 2 of the new constitution, traditional leaders must not be members of any political party or in any way “participate in partisan politics, act in a partisan manner, further the interests of any political party or violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of any person.”
“Primary elections are underway and we do not want violence in this community. We should try all means to shun violence because there is life after elections. If we beat each other up, then how are we going to co- habit as one community after elections?” said Nyoka.
He urged the electorate to be wary of engaging in acts of violence because the leadership of the country denounced violence of all forms and told the gathering: “Even President Robert Mugabe said we should not be engaged in any forms of violence. Let us respect each other’s political affiliation and aspirations.”
He said although the area had not yet experienced any form of politically-motivated violence so far, experience had shown that these cases increased towards election time.
“We are going to learn of election dates soon and this is the right time to tell the people not to engage in violence because when the time comes, everyone will be too excited with the election momentum such that they might not heed the calls,” he said.
Post published in: News