Staff Reporter
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba has challenged political parties to campaign peacefully and desist from hate speech ahead of the by-elections slated for 26 March, this year.
Addressing aspiring candidates, civil society organisations and other stakeholders who attended the launch of a multiparty liaison committee in Harare yesterday, Justice Chigumba appealed to political parties to desist from fuelling tension through hate speech.
“I urge political parties to campaign peacefully, refrain from hate speech. Political parties must resist the urge to blame ZEC in advance as you are facing defeat, please we want to hear more of what your party stands for and give us your strategies,” said Justice Chigumba.
Justice Chigumba made it clear that ZEC is not accountable to faceless social media trolls, but to Parliament.
“As we are in election mode, you will be reading all about voters’ roll fraud from nameless, faceless individuals on social media, they continue to send questions and we know our mandate and how to account to stakeholders. You want ZEC to respond to Twitter or social media give us proper legislation. ZEC will account through Parliament according to the legislative framework, not social media,” she said.
Political parties have been urged to go through the ZEC multiparty liaison committee which is the platform for an amicable resolution of disputes and conflicts, during and after the 26th of March by-elections.
Political parties are already on the campaign trail to drum up support for their respective candidates, hence the call by ZEC for political parties to campaign peacefully.
