Clive Thabo Dube
VIOLENT tendencies are proving to be the political seal for the ruling party Zanu PF supporters suspected to be behind the attacks, harassment and murder of the nascent Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters.
Dozens of opposition supporters’ blood has been shed through political violence for decades. Individuals who support or share a different political view other than that of the ruling party are considered enemies of the state perpetrating insurgency.
Most of the supporters of the political opposition parties since the early 2000s have often been subjected to persecution during election season. The then main opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai saw those rallying behind the movement falling victims to the hands of the former President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF
It is evident politics is a dirty game where peace and democracy can never prevail against arbitrary, politicised rule of law and oppressive forms of governance. The electorate has thus over the years indirectly accepted the idea of holding peaceful elections in the country to be an unachievable feat.
With only a few weeks left into the polls, political violence has erupted through out the country involving clashes between violence agitated Zanu-PF supporters against CCC supporters. And the rulling party continues to preach peace in its campaign manifesto, but the actions on the ground prove otherwise.
Being on the other side, expressing political views becomes only so rhetoric. At the moment Zimbabwe’s main opposition CCC has condemned the stoning to death of one of its supporters in Harare.
The deceased has been identified as Tinashe Chitsunge who was on his way to a rally held by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change party in Glen Norah township before being attacked by a group of suspected Zanu-PF activists on Thursday in Harare.
“We strongly condemn the violent attack by suspected Zanu PF thugs on our members in Glen View 7 today,” CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said.
“They assaulted and stoned our members, who were peacefully heading to a rally.
“One of our members was murdered in the violent orgy. We demand peace and justice.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has however confirmed the arrest of ten suspects linked to the crime.
General elections which will see the incumbent Emmerson Mnangwagwa go head to head against the opposition leader, Adv. Nelson Chamisa are only a few weeks away.
Ahead of the polls, opposition supporters and activists always find themselves behind bars for ‘inciting violence’ with no clear evidence to most of the charges.
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