He made the statements here yesterday while addressing thousands of mourners gathered at the Midlands Provincial Heroes Acre at the burial of Charlotte Msipa, ex-Governor Cephas Msipa’s wife who died on Saturday.
Lately Mugabe whose Zanu (PF) party has been accused of orchestrating organised violence against opponents, particularly MDC supporters, has been urging peace ahead of the next polls.
In his key note address which he delivered at the giant National Sports Stadium on Independence Day a fortnight ago, Mugabe told attendants that no-one should be beaten for supporting a political party of their choice.
He urged citizens to openly follow their political dreams without intimidation or interference from anyone..
“I know in the past there have been so many cases of politically motivated violence each time there has been a proclamation for elections. This year should be a different one. We want peace. Peace, peace and peace everywhere. Let us be a peaceful nation. Elections come and go but we remain Zimbabweans. So let us go these elections as a peaceful people,” said Mugabe.
There were mixed feelings among political analysts on the insistence of peace ahead of the polls by President Robert Mugabe.
MDC Secretary General, Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, told The Zimbabwean that Mugabe’s peace calls are a result of the firmness of SADC in seeing a free and fair next poll in Zimbabwe.
Post published in: News