Death penalty merely multiplies loss of life; it neither restores or upholds life, nor compensate it by taking one more life, however culpable. What does above all else, including the very law which provides for capital punishment, is a strong sense and value of humanity in all of us.
A recognition and respect for the sanctity of life; that collective sense of horror and revulsion we all spontaneously feel at the sight of life prematurely and violently terminated. More than any law, more than any noose, it is that restraining sense and value which durably guarantees sanctity of life in our society. Indeed it is that impulse which makes us all human and humane.
We in leadership must cultivate that powerful and restraining feeling of humanity in our society, cultivate and deepen it as an overriding ethic, and as the first nature of our people; indeed an un-codified and un-policed deterrent to gratuitous violence.
We must invest in that value so it becomes the keeper of all life in our society.
Politicians, church and community leaders, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, relatives, lovers, strangers, even enemies and opponents, we all have a part to play in cultivating this strong sense of collective humanity so it abides in our land, and becomes a powerful mores governing all human conduct.
What I cannot fathom, let alone countenance, is when those of us in leadership instigate violence in society. It becomes a monumental lapse in leadership, an unpardonable indictment to all of us who claim to lead, hold or aspire for Office.
If gold rusts, what will iron do? When morality collapses in echelons of leadership, who then provides moral compass and leadership to the rest of society?
Nyatsime was a failure in leadership; we plumbed to lowest depths of utter depravity, to levels of bare animality, we who claim to lead and, what is worse, we who aspire to govern.
Shame on us!
I said Nyatsime challenged the State, the whole State. Accordingly, the response to this challenge must be holistic, enlisting all arms of State. Those of us in the Executive are ready to act our part fully. We categorically say No to any forms of violence, political violence especially.
Elections are about competing on ideas and for ballots; they are not about descending into orgies of violence and arson as happened in Nyatsime, and as happened in 2018 and 2019.
We are ready to act decisively against perpetrators of political violence, whoever they may be. There will not be any sacred cows in respect of this vice, no impunity whatsoever.
This is our vow going forward.
I ask of a similar resolve from our Legislators, both as lawmakers and as political leaders and actors. It does not matter which party they pledge loyalty to. Our people deserve complete peace, and no less. The spectre of political violence require a strong legislative response which makes it abundantly clear this society does not condone violence, and will not spare the rod of law against it. Our duty is to ensure our law enforcement agencies have adequate laws to pre-empt and deal with political violence wherever it is likely, or where it occurs.
Continued next page
(294 VIEWS)
