…Political parties are free to campaign anywhere
Beverly Bizeki
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga preached peace at Chinorumba High School in Zaka last weekend saying everyone was free to campaign everywhere as long as they do it peacefully.
Mnangagwa said it was everyone’s responsibility to promote peace through campaigning peacefully without dividing people.
“Every political party is allowed to campaign wherever they want but must do so peacefully uniting people not dividing people. The difference is that Zanu PF has the burden of maintaining the gains of the liberation struggle,” said Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa said Citizens Coalition for Change and other political parties are free to campaign but must maintain peace during, before and after elections.
“What we want from them is to hold their campaigns in peace, we want a peaceful election campaign before, during and after this harmonized elections. We want peace across the country.
Mnangagwa also said the ruling party is democratic and are aware of what they want.
“We are a peaceful people but we do not accept hate speech, we accept that people may have different views and that is democracy. We know democracy because we Zanu PF brought democracy, independence and sovereignty to Zimbabwe, we are the masters of democracy, and no one under the sun can ever teach us democracy.
“We are professors of democracy so we must be understood, those who think that they can teach us democracy can jump into the sea and leave us alone.
We know what we want and at what time of the day and at what time of the night, we are solid, we are united we will march forward, Zanu PF is unstoppable,” said Mnangagwa.
Speaking at the same event, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga urged attendants at the rally to maintain peace until the elections.
“I want you to maintain the peace that you are showing us here. Continue with that until the day we cast our votes as we vote for our president.
“Hazvichisiri zvekumhanya kunokwira mumakoronga kana kukwira mumakomo, izvi hazviburitse ziya hazvidi kutakura AK kana bhandiriya hapana kungoenda ende hautakure penzura itoriko kudhara chako itsoka dzako mbiri kungofamba wonotsepetera ipapo kwakudzoka kumba, we want peace, we want unity,” said Chiwenga.
However, Zanu PF is accused of perpetuating violence IN Masvingo Province with a number of CCC members being victimized in Gutu District.
A number of opposition rallies were stopped by Police citing different reasons including shortage of manpower to cover the rallies.