An opposition member of Parliament, Shakespear Hamauswa has called for the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe to give a ministerial statement on the preparedness of the ministry in holding peaceful 2023 general elections.
Zimbabweans will go to the polls on 23 August 2023 to elect new political representatives.
Previous elections have been characterised with pre and post-election violence.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) fall under the ministry and they are key in ensuring that there is peace during the polls.
Speaking in Parliament Tuesday, Hamauswa said the minister should bring the statement on the preparedness of the ministry.
“I want to raise an issue with regards to the harmonised elections which are going to be held this year. This was raised before by MP Machingauta who said that the Minister of Home Affairs should come to this august House and explain the preparedness of his Ministry regarding peaceful elections. However, our term is coming to an end and we are left with a few days before we go for elections. The Minister has not come to the House to fulfil the request that was raised in this august House that he should explain the state of preparedness of the Ministry of Home Affairs and indeed, the nation for holding peaceful elections,” he said.
He said the ministerial statement will instil confidence in citizens that elections will be held in a peaceful environment.
“However, this request has been made three times and it is a request that we ask Mr. Speaker that before the end of the week, the Minister of Home Affairs should give us a ministerial statement on what measures the Ministry is putting in place to ensure peaceful elections,” said Hamauswa.
“We look forward to peaceful elections.”
The acting speaker of Parliament Tsitsi Gezi, said the minister would be engaged on the matter.
“I have two responses; the first one being that if the Minister of Home Affairs was to come tomorrow, then I will request that you ask your question during the Question and Answer session because days are moving and we want peace like what His Excellency the President has proclaimed that there should be peace in the nation.”
“Secondly, if the Minister is not coming, we are still going to engage him so that he brings state of preparedness ministerial speech to the august House so that elections are held in peace.”
