By Tendai Chisiri
The scourge of political violence has been painting and portraying a bad picture to the country of Zimbabwe thereby finding itself at the wrath of regional and international community and as the country gears up for the 2023 Harmonised Elections, it is the wish of everyone around the globe that they will be held peacefully.
Eleven candidates have succeeded in filing their nominations papers as Presidential candidates. Everyone is anticipating peaceful elections, the number eleven depicts eleven players who play soccer.
Sport is known for bringing unity and peace in communities so as it is, the spirit of unity and peace is revealed by the number eleven.
When one thinks of Zimbabwe’s 2023 Harmonised Elections, he or she should bear in mind that as eleven players play the game of soccer, there is an undisputed winner after the match, so that should be so after the Harmonised Elections.
The eleven candidates represent eleven players who play soccer and the elections must be benefit the country not isolate the counter from other countries.
The spirit of sport must prevail with all parties showing some sportsmanship as elections are not there to destroy the country but to build it for future generations.
In a press statement, the Zimbabwe Peacebuilding Initiative (ZimPI)welcomes the President’s message in Chipinge and in all his rallies to this day, calling upon Zimbabweans from all walks of life to embrace the prevailing peaceful environment, conducive to free and fair elections towards the 2023 Harmonised Elections.
ZimPI founding Chairperson, Senator Sekai Holland, who is also the former Co-Minister in the President’s Office in the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) during the Inclusive Government (2009-13) says the recent call by the President of Zimbabwe for Peace, Unity and Harmony made during the launch of Zanu PF campaign in Chipinge Saturday, is a call that must remind us to inculcate the values that we learn about in our schools, churches, in our civil society workshops and within organised gatherings we are involved in daily as we move to our country’s Harmonised Elections in August.
“We must reconnect ourselves to the traditional values of nurturing and promotion of an environment in our country today, where Justice and fairness to all, is the order of the day. These traditional beliefs and practices, were the basis for the liberation struggle to secure our 1980 independence”.
“As citizens we must restore our traditional culture of tolerance, where hate speech is taboo, as is provocative behaviour. It is incumbent on us to behave in ways that induce and promote peaceful coexistence at all times, in all situations we find ourselves in”.
“Justice and fairness to all and for all is an important prerequisite to achieving Peace. Where Peace prevails, the chances of positive development for all is achievable. With development, the goals of equality, harmony, cohesion in our country become a possibility and achievable in our home, in our communities and in our nation,”. says Sen. Holland.
Sen. Holland urges Zimbabweans to shun actions that may trigger or promote violence. “Our appeal as ZiMpi cuts across the society to include but not limited to voters, political parties, civil society, traditional leaders, bureaucracy and the media.
Zimpi seeks to contribute to a safe, secure, happy, peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe anchored pm sustainable peace following the traditional peace processes.
It mainstreams peacebuilding in regenerative community development programmes with special attention to women, children, people living with disability, the vulnerable and minority members of the community.
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