Source: Zimbabwe peace commission deplores violence in country – Xinhua | English.news.cn
HARARE (Xinhua) — Zimbabwe’s National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) on Monday deplored political and pubic violence that engulfed the nation in the past week.
In a statement, the Commission urged the nation to shun political violence and desist from victimizing and discriminating against women and other people along ethnic lines.
The Commission also urged police to desist from using excessive and inappropriate force against unarmed civilians.
The remarks by the Commission comes after opposition Movement for Democratic Change leaders Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora were attacked last Tuesday by party supporters at the burial of their leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Some have said the attack on female leader Khupe, who belongs to the minority Ndebele tribe, was tribal and sexist.
Two days later on Thursday, two people died and three police officers were injured after clashes between civilians and the police in Harare over the government’s ban on commuter omnibuses in the central business district.
“Law enforcement officers are implored to desist from the use of excessive and inappropriate force against citizens but use dialogue as a means of achieving a lasting peaceful resolution of disputes,” said the NPRC.
On political violence, the NPRC said: “Political party leaders are urged to desist from inciting their members to engage in violence and criminal activities. The nation has to have a culture of resolving conflicts and disputes peacefully.”
Zimbabwe is due to hold national elections mid this year and President Emmerson Mnangagwa has implored the nation to uphold peace and ensure the elections are held in a peaceful environment.
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