President Mnangagwa has described the use of the police by his party during the primary elections as a violation of law and the practice m...
President Mnangagwa has described the use of the police by
his party during the primary elections as a violation of law and the practice
must stop forthwith.
Mnangagwa said the conflation of party and State
institutions had no room in the new dispensation.
“A story in one of our local dailies alleges that Zanu-PF abused
police officers and other security agencies during its primaries over the
weekend either as polling officers or running other party chores.
“The story creates the wrong impression that the alleged
abuses were sanctioned by His Excellency the President, Cde E.D Mnangagwa in
flagrant violation of the country’s constitution and against his own pledge
that State institutions would not be partisan, thereby undermining their
constitutional roles as impartial arbiters in the electoral process. The story
also suggests that it is the official policy of Zanu-PF to enlist the
involvement of security arms in party chores and processes.
The President in
his capacity as both leader of a political party and Head of Government wishes
to make it abundantly clear to all and sundry that it is neither the policy of
Zanu-PF nor the direction of Government, through him, to deploy the police
force or any arm of the security establishment in helping with any party
function, least of all as presiding or returning officers in party primary
elections. Any such instances, which might have occurred in the just ended
party primary elections would amount to a breach of Zanu-PF policy and
certainly a flagrant violation of the laws of the land which must be roundly
condemned and stopped forthwith,”
“Let it be known that conflation of party and State
institutions as might have happened in the past will not be allowed under the
new dispensation where the electoral playing field must be seen to be fair and
even,” he said.
“Having said this, it must be acknowledged and accepted
that our law enforcement agencies should and will be deployed to ensure law,
order and the preservation of peace wherever people gather, including for
political purposes. Government relies on all those in political leadership to
send this clear message to their parties and their membership. The President
reiterates his pledge to ensure a plebiscite which is free, fair and an
uncontested expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe. To that end, Government
has invited all manner of observers to bear witness to the fulfilment of this
pledge.”
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