#POLITRICKS
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“Murikuzowana ma fertilisers
asi ndodawo one favour
yerutsigiro rwenyu pama
elections, fertilizer yabva kuna
President wedu so mose
monyoresa mazita ne number
dzezvitupa (You will get
fertilisers but I need one
favour; vote for me in the
election. (This fertiliser came
from our President
(Mnangagwa) so you must all
get your names and ID
numbers written down)”.
Manyara said before adding
that if he and President
Mnangagwa did not get votes in
future elections, no one would
to get inputs and other
government relief aid.
Even in areas where there are
no by-elections, there was
widespread politicisation of
aid.
Examples are in Mazowe South
at Rujeko shopping centre in
ward 33 where Zanu PF
councilor Mitche Kasere and a
farmer Florence Makiwa,
reportedly denied villagers
fertilizers from the government
and in Bindura South at Nekati
village ward 12, where during a
community distribution of
fertilizer, a Zanu PF
Chairperson Abraham
Mhembere said all opposition
political party supporters
should not benefit from any
government schemes.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the political
developments spelt out in this
report, we believe that before
we belong to any political
party, we are Zimbabwean First
and as we go to the byelections on March 26, we
reiterate the following
recommendations, which we
believe can create an
environment for free, fair and
credible elections in 2022 and
beyond.
•
We implore ZEC to
strengthen the Multi Party
Liaison Committee to make it
inclusive and capacitated to
deal with cases of political
violence.
•State media is supposed to
serve the interests of every
Zimbabwean and is expected to
accord all political contestants
an equal chance to be heard
•ZPP expects that aid should
not be used as a tool for
political coercion or vote
buying and no political party
should interfere in govt aid
processes as these are meant to
benefit those deserving
regardless of their political
affiliation
•ZPP further urges the ruling
party to respect the line
between the party and the
government, and to ensure that
all citizens enjoy their
Constitutionally guaranteed
right to participate in the
electoral processes without
coercion.
•We believe that holding
different political views is not a
reason for anyone to be
discriminated against, arrested,
criminalised, intimidated or
harassed as has been seen in
the past year. It is our hope
that these values are respected.
•
Traditional leaders
should be apolitical and should
not use their influence to
coerce citizens to vote for any
political party.
•
Without tolerance and
harmony the lasting peace
cannot be maintained. Lack of
tolerance leads to fighting,
violence, and finally it destroys
the peace and security of our
country.
•The most fundamental
principle defining credible
elections is that they must
reflect the free expression of
the will of the people. To
achieve this, elections should
be transparent, inclusive, and
accountable, and there must be
equitable opportunities to
campaign.
•Peace is the cornerstone of
our nation's development as it
comes along with unity,
positive thinking, and
collaboration for the common
good of all. There is need for
citizens to decide on a set of
collective values that they will
live by and nurture for the next
generation. Without tolerance
and harmony, the lasting peace
of societies cannot be
maintained.