MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-The National Peace & Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and UN Women, have called for peace and an end to electoral Gender Based Violence (GBV) as the country heads towards harmonised elections this year.
They said Zimbabweans should embrace peace and co-exist in order to develop the country.
The call was made during the electoral gender based violence, prevention and management workshop held at the Methodist Church in Gweru today.
Speaking at the meeting, NPRC Commissioner Donwell Dube said the stakeholders meeting will also impart knowledge and skills for peace building targeting all communities particularly the youth, as well as discussing the effects of electoral violence.
“This workshop is meant to equip stakeholders with relevant skills to understand what conflict is and to come up with strategies which will feed in the national framework in dealing with conflict in particular of gender based violence.
“The meeting will also deal with issues of the youth. Young people provide energy of conflict. We want to harness that energy towards peace building so that the youth are sensitized on their role they can play as peace builders and the energy they can bring to the table as far as peace building is concerned,” said Comm Dube.
Dube added that the indaba will zero in on the dynamics of conflict and intervention strategies that can be taped in during elections.
ZCC secretary general Wilfred Dimingo highlighted that the churches will continue conscientizing communities to safeguard peace during and after elections.
He said the church has “realized that during elections, women are one of the vulnerable groups that are at the receiving end of violence”.
Dimingo said the churches umbrella board has been engaging with the political parties to discuss issues of elections and violence.
He added that the church is happy that political parties have shown commitment to deal with violence during and after elections period.
In its 2023 election conflict prevention strategic document, NPRC encouraged the state to ensure appropriate legislative and administrative measures are in place to curb electoral violence and other electoral malpractices whilst ZCC encouraged people’s participation in electoral processes through I Pray I Vote campaign.
