Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged all citizens to desist from violent confrontations as the country braces for this year’s harmonised elections.

President Mnangagwa made the call during the official opening of the Epworth Magistrate’s court yesterday.

“As you are aware, the 2023 harmonised elections are fast approaching, I therefore, call upon all our people, including political parties, civil society organisations, religious institutions, and the media to always promote peace.

“Where we differ, violence must not be an answer or strategy. We are all Zimbabweans first and foremost, brothers and sisters and we must never inflict violence upon ourselves in the name of diverging views. Let us sustain the prevailing peace, unity, love and harmony, focused on nation building,” said President Mnangagwa.

Speaking to this publication, political analyst, Terrence Chipwanya also urged the opposition parties to take a leaf from ZANU PF following the holding of peaceful primary elections.

“I urge opposition parties to take a leaf from ZANU PF and conduct peaceful campaigns. They should shun the culture of violence which brings about the loss of livelihoods and undermines our peace and unity. The opposition parties should desist from being used by negative forces to destabilise their own country, as they will only prolong the hardships which Government is tirelessly working to address in a more sustainable manner,” said Chipwanya.

Meanwhile, the residents of Epworth have applauded the Government for bringing justice at their doorsteps, saying the initiative was more beneficial to women who often suffer in silence and do not report cases of abuse to the police due to a lack of sufficient resources to follow through with their cases in faraway courts.