By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ahead of the August presidential and parliamentary elections, President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday assured that his government is committed to ensuring a free and fair election in the Southern African country.
At a speech to mark the 43 years of Independence of the country from the British colonial rule, Mnangagwa, 80, who is seeking re-election, also cautioned “voices, foreign or local, inclusive of rogue NGOs” sowing “seeds of division and disharmony among us”.
Though no date has been fixed for the polls, the president urged Zimbabweans to “say no to violence, before, during and after” the upcoming crunch vote.
“My government has put measures in place to ensure free, fair and credible elections”, he told thousands of Zimbabweans who gathered for the independence anniversary.
The celebrations were held in the small town of Mount Darwin, around 155 kilometres northeast of the capital Harare.
The president’s party, ZANU-PF has been accused in the past of using violence and intimidation to instil fear in opponents during elections.
Two days after the 2018 polls, soldiers killed five people when opposition protestors alleging fraud took to the streets of Harare, burning tyres and pulling down street signs.
The president has been accused of cracking down on political opponents.
In 2018 Mnangagwa won disputed elections which his main opponent, Nelson Chamisa insists were rigged.
The two will face off for a second time in the upcoming polls.
In February the country’s parliament approved a bill banning civil society organisations from engaging in politics.
Under the new legislation, the state can intervene in the governance and activities of charities and civil groups, including making changes to their internal management and funding.
The law, which caused outcry from rights groups and the global community, states that violators would risk up to a year in jail.
Mnangagwa replaced strongman ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017 after a military-led coup.
