We cannot let slip of peace merely because violence is perpetrated by or within any one party, whatever the cause or circumstances. I thus urge all parties to underwrite and ensure peace and harmony during their respective internal party processes.
This is where we begin to cultivate and build peace for our nation. A cadre who visits violence on a fellow party member is unlikely to spare the same on a member of a political party which is not his own.
For the avoidance of doubt, let me restate that stakeholders and stockholders in Zimbabwe’s harmonised general elections are Zimbabwean citizens only.
This, in part, is what we mean when we say “Nyika inotongwa nevene vayo”; what we mean when we say Zimbabwe belongs to, and is governed by, Zimbabweans only. Zimbabweans alone also bear the full burden and sole responsibility of rebuilding and growing their economy and country, a position we clinch through a kindred mantra: Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.
These two mantras draw clear and indelible boundaries on who is a lawful actor in national processes, including in the impending harmonised elections.
I have had to stress this point because we continue to get reports of a few hostile countries that are trying, through their embassies here, to persistently meddle in, and to manipulate our electoral processes.
Today, I call them to order, warning them against challenging our hard-won sovereignty, which is embodied in all our national processes, including elections.
Quite often, these hostile countries use political NGOs they deliberately set up; they fund and run as Trojan Horses here.
It is this kind of mischief, this wanton abuse of our goodwill, which has forced us to introduce the PVO Bill in our Parliament.
I am ready to sign this Bill into law once Parliament has done its part.
It is a law which has countless siblings in different jurisdictions, including those of Governments counselling and urging us against it.
Honest and well-meaning NGOs have nothing to fear. They will be allowed to go about their humanitarian work, without let or hindrance.
Those peddling or saddled with foreign interests and agendas have a lot to worry about; we will act on them once we establish they have betrayed their mandate.
This includes banning and kicking them out of our country.
Let peace reign in our nation as we head towards the 2023 Harmonised General Elections!
By President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the Sunday Mail
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