#ElectionsZW: Stop your violence, democracy is about multi parties

#ElectionsZW: Stop your violence, democracy is about multi parties

Election watchdog, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) has urged political parties participating in the by-elections to tolerate each other, arguing that democracy is about multi-parties.

The ERC statement comes a day after Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters were attacked by suspected Zanu PF supporters in Kwekwe.

Citizens Coalition for Changer was holding its rallying to drum up support for its candidates in Kwekwe.

On Saturday the party saw its members being teargassed by police in Gokwe.

In the same weekend, Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) rally was also allegedly disrupted by Zanu PF supporters in Epworth.

In a statement, ERC said the events do not inspire confidence in the electorate as it drives fear.

‘’The Election Resource Centre (ERC) notes with grave concern the politically motivated violence targeting Citizen Coalition for Change supporters in Kwekwe on Sunday 27 February 2022.

‘’Acts of political violence are unacceptable in Zimbabwe’s democracy, and ERC calls on all political parties, state institutions, and electoral stakeholders to desist from the practice.

‘’Further, ERC calls on the constitutional bodies responsible for justice to investigate and prosecute the instigators of violence.

‘’The ERC reminds political parties and their supporters that democracy is about multi parties and divergent views and to that end calls on all political parties to respect the democratic principles set out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe,’’ read the statement.

ERC added that while it applauds the police acting swiftly on the matter, it was worried that some bodies that have the duty to ensure peace are not responsive.

‘’While ERC applauds the Zimbabwe Republic Police for acting swiftly in arresting the accused persons, the ongoing unresponsiveness of institutions meant to promote peace and a free and fair electoral environment will lead to a lack of confidence in the functionality of those systems.

‘’At a time when electoral credibility is waning, there must be deliberate efforts to fix the damage done to the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. Trust in institutions is a critical part of systemic peace and credible elections.

Zimbabwe has the National Reconciliation and Peace Commission (NRPC), and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) who mandated to support human rights, democracy, constitutionalism, and peaceful co-existence.  The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is also mandated by the constitution to ensure the holding of free, fair, and credible elections.

#ElectionsZW: Stop your violence, democracy is about multi parties