ZAPU has called for peace ahead of the harmonised elections, noting that they stand for peace and tranquillity.
Speaking to CITE in an interview, ZAPU leader Sibangilizwe Nkomo said since congress last year, they have been moving around the country conducting rallies where they have been preaching peace.
“We have been on the ground since Congress, travelling around the country and our message has been very clear. We want peace during this election period. Our message has always been clear. We are encouraging mostly our ex-combatants to enforce peace and tranquillity in the areas where they reside,” he said.
“We are also preparing for elections as a party, no matter what the situation is, we are as ready as ready can be. We are going to contest the elections. There are some areas where we feel we can do well, given a few more months we will say with confidence that we do have strongholds throughout the country. We have always shunned violence and we stand to shun violence. It does not matter how much power those who misgovern us have, we shall always stand for peace and tranquillity in this country.”
Meanwhile, Nkomo urged all media houses to give equal coverage to all political parties, citing that some parties are perceived as “small”.
“Some media organisations refer to ZAPU as a small party, we are not a small party, we are the mother party and have been in existence for the past 62 years. It’s unfortunate that people buy into that, even the media buys into that. I’m glad that we are slowly but surely making use of social media and other media platforms that are not controlled by the ruling elites,” he said.
“We invite media organisations to come to our rallies and hear us out, what we are saying to the people. People want an alternative and ZAPU is the alternative in this country, we are going to finish the unfinished business with the people and with various institutions.”
