The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has called on relevant authorities to investigate the violence against opposition supporters of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) on Sunday in Kwekwe.
In a statement, the ERC said the police, the National Reconciliation and Peace Commission (NRPC), and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) should establish what transpired and avert a degeneration of such violence in the future.
The ERC also urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to be proactive rather than reactive to ensure free and fair elections as politically motivated attacks are on the increase countrywide.
It said politically-motivated violence and ZEC ‘s failure or lack of will to proactively act will worsen voter apathy in the country. Said ERC:
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) notes with grave concern the politically motivated violence targeting Citizen Coalition for Change supporters in Kwekwe on Sunday, 27 February 2022.“Acts of political violence are unacceptable in Zimbabwe’s democracy, and ERC calls on all political parties, state institutions.
Further ERC calls on the constitutional bodies responsible for justice to investigate and prosecute the instigators of violence. The ERC reminds political parties and their supporters that democracy is about multi parties and divergent views and to that end calls on all political parties to respect the democratic principles set out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
ERC applauded the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for acting swiftly in arresting the accused persons.
ZRP reported the arrest of 16 people, mainly ZANU PF, card-carrying members following the Kwekwe violence that led to the death of a 35-year-old Mbonesi Ncube.