Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) has vehemently condemned a recent
incident of political violence against elderly citizens in one of Zimbabwe’s rural village,
Murehwa, saying the acts are ‘barbaric’ and ‘disturbing.’
In a statement signed by the country’s six bishops, released on the 12th of January and widely accepted by many in the country, the prelates said “heinous violent crimes as the one captured on the ‘Murehwa video’ should be condemned by all parties.”
The bishops appealed to government and political parties to march towards true peace and freedoms of all peoples, by respecting ‘people’s choices’ and not intimidating or coercing
them for political gain.
In video circulating on social media, the apparently shocked and traumatised elderly citizens are brutally assaulted with sticks by unrestrained youths.
With no shame, the perpetrators record the video of their cruel acts, asking innocent elders their names and what their party has ever done for them in a bid to harass and intimidate
them.
Reports have confirmed that the incident occurred in Ward 4 of Bhunu Village, Murehwa
North, a district in Mashonaland East.
The bishops urged political parties to employ ethical campaigns other than violence and
coercion to “gain political mileage.”
Catholic Bishops, in unison with other progressive Church bodies, have in the past published pastoral letters condemning political violence in a consistent fashion, such as in the letter
“The end does not justify the means”, where the church leaders, said “an evil action cannot be
justified by a good intention.”
Far from unprecedented events, Zimbabwe has seen a lot of political violence around
elections, including in the recent by-elections in 2022.
As the Church leaders’ tears well up in their eyes calling for peace, they urge various
government institutions, including the police, to “bring the perpetrators of violence to justice”
and to give the necessary care to the victims.
While political violence is nation self-destruction and is retrogressive, what remains to be
seen is if political players will heed the call and grant the people a ‘different’ “free, credible and fair election” devoid of violence.
By Kudakwashe Matambo
English