GUNS
&ROSES
MAY 2021
2.1.1 The Guns: Our Observation
It is against such a background that the gun has played a role in the preservation of
power for the ruling party, and in the process, it has been the cause of the human rights
situation in the country, where the state security agents are the major perpetrators.
The erection of the Mbuya Nehanda statue is symbolic in many ways in that it should be a
moment of reflection for Zanu PF and government that freedom from colonialism was
meant to be freedom for all Zimbabweans. Instead, post-independence Zimbabwe has
been marred by a constant consolidation of power by the ruling party such that human
rights the reasons for the liberation struggle, have ceased to matter.
The recognition of civil and political and socio-economic rights by government is the only
way Zimbabwe can walk out of its current political and economic challenges and with two
years before a critical election, there is still sufficient time to undo the current militarized
state of politics and institute robust reforms in line with the 2013 Constitution, which was
voted for by over three million Zimbabweans. There is still sufficient time to undo the
amendments to the Constitution and to undertake effective security sector reforms.
There is sufficient time to undo all the apparatus of political violence, among them, the
National Youth Service.
In light of these observations, ZPP is rolling out a campaign to end violence in
Zimbabwe’s political space.
2.1.2 Our Campaign
As Zimbabwe draws towards another election, the gun, which has always preserved
power at whatever costs, will become a critical factor and its role will become much
more pronounced in Zimbabwe’s civil and political space.
It is in light of this that ZPP launched a Resist, Reject and Report Violence Campaign,
#RRRV2023, to document and expose perpetrators of politically motivated violence as
well as to create an active citizenry that resists, rejects and reports violence. The
reporting should be to the police who have the mandate to protect life and property
but with the conflation of state and party citizens have lost confidence and trust in the
institution of the police. ZPP encourages citizens to report to the police and also create
awareness of the situation with CSOs like ZPP whose interest is to detect and report
incidents and engage with institutions such as the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Commission which accepts complaints from citizens.
As part of its mandate of monitoring, documentation and peacebuilding, ZPP aims to
contribute to a peaceful electoral process where citizens are empowered to reject
powerful politicians who incite them to engage in politically motivated violence.
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