Local election observers have called for tolerance of divergent political views as Zimbabwe heads towards violence-marred parliamentary and local government by-elections later this month and watershed general elections next year.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) urged political parties and other electoral stakeholders to foster peace ahead of the March 26 by-elections and 2023 harmonized elections.
“The network is deeply concerned about the recent spate of inter-party as well as intra-party violence that occurred which taints the credibility of electoral processes,” said ZESN, an umbrella body of local organisations involved in electoral issues.
The statement comes in the wake of last weekend’s clashes between supporters of the ruling ZANU PF and the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, formerly called Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance.
Several people were killed during the skirmishes that occurred during campaign rallies in central Zimbabwe.
ZESN said the violent clashes have a potential to adversely affect the participation of women and people with disabilities during the ongoing voter registration exercise.
“ZESN calls on political parties to embrace divergent views and promote peace in the country as well as to put in place mechanisms that promote the participation of women in electoral processes.”
JN/APA