Charles Motsi
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has asked all Zimbabweans to shun violence, as it goes against the democratic trajectory that the country is on and instead choose unity as the best choice in achieving the country's developmental goals.
The President was responding to premature and uncalled for threats by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) President, Nelson Chamisa, who stated that his party would resort to violence if election results did not favour his party.
While addressing the Midlands ZANU PF by-elections star rally on Saturday at Mbizo Stadium, President Mnangagwa noted that the CCC's threats were not in line with democratic practices and urged people from all walks of life to be united in building the country.
“Chamisa and his party have threatened the nation with violence if they lose the upcoming elections and this is wrong as we are saying no to violence. Violence goes against our democracy and is not progressive.
“Instead of violence I urge all of us to come together and build our nation as I always say, nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, ichitongwawo nevene vayo (the nation can only be built by its people and should also be governed by its own people),” said the President.
To show his sincerity in pursuing democracy and unity instead of violence, the President presented the repentant duo of Kandros Mugabe and Energy ‘Dhala’ Ncube who had a history of fighting each other in the Midlands town of Kwekwe.
“These young boys are as good as my own children, they were lost for a while, it was as if they had been possessed, but now I present them to you and testify that they are born again and from now own will work together for the people of Kwekwe, ZANU PF and Zimbabwe in peace,” said the President.
In response to the President's zero tolerance to violence the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested 16 suspects in connection with violent clashes between CCC supporters and unknown thugs which occurred during their rally in Kwekwe on Sunday. Investigations are still under way to determine who caused the clashes and to curb any recurrence in future.
