Winky D entertains the crowd during the peace campaign in Zaka
Brighton Chiseva
ZAKA – More than 300 people registered to vote last week in Jerera at a national peace campaign organised by Heal Zimbabwe, Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) in Zaka.
The event was running under the theme ’13 million voices for peace’ and it was graced by Winky D, David Mubaiwa of the Sabhuku Vharazipi fame as local artists Gun Barrel and She Selectah.
Some 250 people registered to vote at the event and many of them were youths, a significant number for a district with apathetic young people.
Heal Zimbabwe brought commissioners of oaths who issued people with proofs of residence to facilitate easy access to the registration process.
Heal Zimbabwe Trust programmes manager Sithabile Dhehwa said the organisation saw it necessary to provide live entertainment as a way of attracting more people and spread the gospel of peace.
Representatives of ERC and ZimRights took time to educate the people on BVR as well as to make it clear that registering to vote is a constitutional right that all citizens have to enjoy.
“People should preserve peace, they should register and vote in peace and desist from intimidating others, peace begins with you and that is why we are calling for 13 million voices,” said Dhehwa.
Chief Nyakunhuwa, born Courage Jerera, was also in attendance and he encouraged people to exercise their rights peacefully and without fearing anyone.
“If your village head asks to you to pay to get proof of residence report to us as chiefs. We know how to deal with such people. Everybody should register and vote in peace without fear,” said Nyakunhuwa.
Zaka suffered some of the worst politically-motivated violence in 2000 and during the 2008 presidential election runoff.local
