EU, Zanu-PF call for peace
THE European Union yesterday urged for Zimbabweans to respect the rule of law and exercise restraint after the Constitutional Court ruling that dismissed the MDC Alliance petition and upheld President Mnangagwa’s win in the 2018 harmonised elections.
In a joint local statement on the Concourt’s ruling on the presidential elections, the heads of the EU Delegation, Mission of EU Member States present in Harare and the Mission of Switzerland urged the people to acknowledge the verdict of the highest court.
“Acknowledging the verdict of Zimbabwe’s highest court, all stakeholders should call for calm and restraint in both victory and defeat.
“The recent increase in politically motivated human rights violations, including some acts of post-electoral retribution, is unacceptable. All cases need to be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. The fundamental rights of all citizens need to be respected and the physical integrity and safety of the victims and witnesses protected,” read the statement.
According to the EU, the electoral process revealed both improvements and challenges.
EU said an inclusive approach was key to designing and implementing reforms that stand the test of time.
“It is important that the new Government engages all stakeholders in substantive discussions on the necessary reforms, including further electoral reforms.
“The Heads of Mission stand ready to continue to work with Zimbabwe to foster democracy to the benefit of all its citizens,” said the EU.
Meanwhile, the ruling Zanu-PF welcomed the Concourt ruling and called for peace and tolerance as people celebrate the victory.
The party leadership also extended a hand to “rebels” to come back home to be part of a winning team that has the people at heart.
In a statement yesterday Zanu-PF National Secretary for Information and Publicity Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said the party was happy with the Concourt outcome and was prepared to move forward with its developmental work.
“Following the epoch-making unanimous verdict by the Constitutional Court declaring unequivocally, the winner of the Presidential lection held on July 30, 2018 is President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the revolutionary party Zanu-PF and its entire membership across the country and in the Diaspora is elated with superlative geniality.
“The people spoke during the recently held harmonised elections and now the Concourt’s full bench after a transparent legal process televised live, has endorsed the people’s will. The moment of truth is upon us, celebrations are beckoning, peace must prevail, we must embrace each other, it has been worth the democratic effort, we are a proud nation and real work now begins. We must deliver and live by our party’s motto ‘Unity, Peace and Development’,” he said. “Together we cannot fail.”
Ambassador Khaya Moyo said President Mnangagwa was a courageous and visionary revolutionary leader with exceptional war credentials.
“The declared Presidential winner, Cde ED Mnangagwa is a revolutionary imbued with enviable attributes encompassing exceptional liberation war credentials, courage, vision, tested leadership and carries a defined destiny for our people to full economic emancipation.
“This celebratory message is not partisan but all embracing and national in character. We hail the inauguration as a day set by the Almighty long before the harmonised elections. We have no access to the Lord’s calendar,” he said.
In an interview at the Zanu- PF headquarters after the Concourt judgment, national deputy political commissar Cde Omega Hungwe urged the people who had deserted the party to come back and work for the good of the nation.
“We are so happy that we have made it. Zanu-PF was the only winning party in Zimbabwe. Zanu-PF haidyiwe zvekumhanya,” she said.
“Many sons and daughters died for this party. It is the only party that is ordained by God. We call upon all those who are lost to come back home and join the ruling party that has the will of people at heart.
“The people have spoken. They have chosen Zanu-PF, a party with a visionary leader, President Mnangagwa.”
Zanu-PF National Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi said as the youths, they felt justice had prevailed.
“We feel exonerated. We feel justice has been done. The truth will always prevail. When the truth is there and you are standing with the truth you have nothing to hide.
“From the start our elections were transparent. We allowed all those people who wanted to observe our elections to come. When the court issue was raised by the opposition (MDC Alliance) we also allowed the media to beam it live to the world. That is a reflection of a people who are transparent, peaceful and would want justice to prevail. For us it is done and we are happy,” he said.
In a statement after the Concourt judgement, MDC Alliance director of communications Mr Luke Tamborinyoka said they respected the verdict of the courts but refused to acknowledge that Mr Nelson Chamisa lost to President Mnangagwa.
The party said it will continue to pursue their issue using other constitutional avenues.
“As a party and as an Alliance, we believe in the rule of law and we respect the verdict of the courts; more so the verdict of the people Zimbabwe who overwhelmingly voted for President Nelson Chamisa; for transformation; for opportunities and for prosperity in their beloved country.
“Our unstinting belief in the rule of law means we shall not only respect the verdict of the Bench but we shall also doggedly pursue all constitutionally permissible avenues to ensure that the sovereign will of the people is protected and guaranteed,” he said.
Mr Tamborinyoka said Mr Chamisa and his legal team had mounted a formidable case on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe
“A case of chicanery and electoral pilferage that was vindicated by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s embarrassing revision of its own declared results for a record three times.
“After all, it is ultimately the people who are sovereign. As Chief Justice Malaba noted in the court’s judgment today, it is not up to the courts to decide elections but it is up to the people.
“We call for peace in our land but, above all, we call for the veneration and protection of the people’s sovereign expression, which was unequivocal in the just-ended harmonised election,” he said.