This was agreed at a Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) meeting held a fortnight ago at Nhedziwa Business Centre where local traditional leaders, police, senior officials from Zanu PF and the two MDC formations all pledged to stop political violence in the area.
Jomic board member Frank Chamunorwa said party leaders, police and Chief John Mutambara made it clear to the villagers that they would not tolerate political violence.
“We agreed that all the houses that were destroyed would be rebuilt by the victims with the assistance of the perpetrators,” Chamunorwa said. “Jomic and all the political parties would help in one way or the other during the rebuilding exercise. “We want to put in place a conducive environment that would enable their safe return to their homes.”
Chamunorwa said the reconstruction of the houses would begin before the start of the farming season to enable the returnees to plant their crops in time.
Jomic political liaison officer Lovemore Kadenge (MDC-T) also confirmed that the perpetrators would help in the reconstruction of houses for the victims as a way of showing remorse for what they did.
This will be done in the presence of Jomic officials, police and traditional leaders to avoid resurgence of violence.Chief Mutambara on Thursday denounced political violence adding that the victims were free to come back to their homes.
He said he would either deal with perpetrators of violence himself or report them to the police if they dared attack them again. “Last week’s meeting was very fruitful and I am hoping people in my area will live peacefully from now on,” the chief said. “I am a chief for everyone regardless of political affiliation. I want both Zanu PF and MDC supporters here to live peacefully.”
The meeting was attended by Jomic co-chairpersons Minister of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Nicholas Goche, Minister of Regional Integration and International Cooperation Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Energy minister Elton Mangoma.
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At least 12 MDC-T activists from Nhedziwa area in Chimanimani District have since May been sheltered at the party’s provincial offices in Mutare after they fled their homes following attacks by alleged Zanu PF supporters.
Another 20 are living with friends and relatives after fleeing their homes.
In Harare, Jomic is also setting up provincial liaison committees in an effort to end political violence rocking the city. The committees, which include officials from the three parties in the government of national unity (GNU) will also be established in other provinces.Chamunorwa said in the capital, Jomic would soon meet victims and alleged perpetrators of violence separately in an effort to find solutions to violence.“We want to instil in people that there is no gain in violence,” he said.
“People should know that Pre-sident (Robert) Mugabe, (Prime Minister Morgan) Tsvangirai and (MDC leader Welshman) Ncube are always drinking tea together, merry-making while ordinary people in Mbare and Highfield are busy attacking each other.”
Jomic was constituted under Article XXII of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed in 2008 by leaders of Zanu PF and the two MDC formations. It was formed to ensure the full implementation of the GPA, create mutual trust between the parties, promote continuous dialogue and to receive “reports and complaints” relating to the implementation of the agreement.
Kadenge also said the main challenge was that the perpetrators had not returned the goats, chickens and other property they looted from their victims. They were never arrested although victims reported their cases to the police.
“One (Zanu PF member) of them is using a cellphone handset of a victim,” Kadenge said. “The matter was reported but this man was never arrested so this is the challenge. We are asking someone to co-exist with a person who is using his stolen property.”
