Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
SEVEN political parties participating in this month’s general election have signed a peace pledge to uphold and preach peace ahead of the polls.
As part of efforts to sustain the current peaceful environment and ensure political parties preach peace during the election period, Christian denominations this Friday provided a platform for political actors to sign a peace pledge.
The 12-point peace pledge was signed by seven political parties taking part in the August 23 election and they concurred on the need to promote peace towards a credible plebiscite.
“We are going to uphold peace at all levels and now we will see how other political parties will carry themselves going forward,” said CCC Secretary for Elections, Mr Ian Makone.
“The signing shows our party’s commitment to ensuring there is peace and we are happy that churches saw it to ensure political parties commit,” said MDC-T Chief whip, Mrs Paurina Mpariwa.
“We are happy that political parties have expressed their commitment to upholding peace during this election period which is critical for the development of the country. We will remain friends after elections hence the need to be very peaceful,” said UZA President, Ms Elisabeth Valerio.
“As a party, we have been calling for a peaceful election and this pledge reaffirms our position regarding a violent free election,” said ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs, Advocate Fortune Chasi.
Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations president Bishop Never Muparutsa noted the need for Zimbabweans to always pursue peace.
“It is appropriate that we gather today as children of God. We must all be ambassadors of peace, we are commanded to seek and pursue peace all the time. Political jackets must not allow us to view each other differently, let’s not tire to preach peace,” he said.
Some of the political parties that signed the peace pledge include UZA, ZAPU, CCC, ZCPD, MDC-T, UANC and ZANU PF.
