Source: ZimRights
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) condemns in the strongest terms the organising and instigation of violence by the ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) officials targeting Members of Parliament and ordinary citizens during public hearings on electoral reforms.
Zanu-PF supporters assaulted Hon. Jessie Majome, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, on Thursday October 27, 2016, during the course of attending to her duties at a public hearing on electoral reforms at Beit Hall Dangamvura in Mutare.
The violent disruption followed other choreographed violent attempts at disrupting a similar meeting at Nyamakwere Hotel in Mutoko on Wednesday, October 26.
ZimRights is disturbed by the undemocratic and violent attempts by members of the ruling party at preventing citizens from making their voices heard regarding electoral reforms in the public hearings on the petition made to Parliament by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) and 14 other organisations.
The violent incidences by Zanu-PF officials are a clear disregard and in contempt of the constitutional role of parliament, which is mandated to hear public views on issues of national interest so as to factor them in the legislative agenda.
ZimRights calls upon the Zanu-Pf leadership to discipline its members, and respect the work of parliament. ZimRights denounces the notable and general rise in incidences of politically motivated violence being perpetrated by actors and instigators in the ruling party.
ZimRights Hotlines
0773-789874, 0733-606797, 0718-928611