By Community Podium
Aspiring council candidates for Matobo Rural District Council have vowed to promote peace in the area ahead of the harmonised elections slated for August 23.
Matobo has not been spared from political violence following the violent skirmishes that took place in Ward 2 during the by-election campaigns in 2022 following the death of the then Councillor Tom Moyo. A wave of violence reared its ugly head in Ward 2 when alleged ruling party gangs descended on the ward injuring several people. The country was outraged at images of grown women being stripped of their clothes to the point of half-nakedness.
Speaking to Community Podium, Matobo Ward 19 aspiring candidate Nqobizitha Ngwenya (CCC) said he believes it is progressive for every candidate and politician to advocate for peaceful elections.
“I think it’s important for me as a candidate to take centre stage and denounce violence and promote peace. Peaceful elections will help us build our local communities as a collective without victimising and discriminating anyone,” said Ngwenya.
He said young people are shying away from participating in the electoral processes due to violence that has defined elections in the previous plebiscites.
“As politicians, we need to sing from the same hymn book so that we promote peace during the election season,” he said.
Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) Ward 20 Councillor, Zihlobo Ncube, said young people must take ownership of what is happening around them by ensuring that they are not used to perpetrate violence.
“We are hearing about cases of violence in other parts of the country and these are not good signs for free, fair and peaceful elections. The youths should not be used to harm fellow community members because violence is senseless and negatively affects development. It also violates freedom of choice for voters, which is unconstitutional,” Ncube said.
One youth, Dennis Ndlovu (21) spoke of the importance of youth involvement in peace talks and pushed the idea of contestation of ideas, not violence.
“Youth are the majority and they need to be part of conversations that promote peace and unity. We cannot have politicians using young people in acts of violence and also expect the same young people to play a meaningful role in development,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said more electoral education needs to be carried out for young people to understand the consequences of perpetrating violence.
“Negative peer pressure is one of the reasons why most young people are ignorant. If they are exposed to education aimed at countering the bad influence that they might be getting from criminals, it will go a long way in shaping youths that value a peaceful election environment.”
