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, Vice President John Nkomo has said.

The code of conduct, that is being drafted by the Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, is expected to hold any political party perpetrating violence to account for its actions.
This came out during a meeting between the organ and church leaders in Harare yesterday.
The meeting was aimed at finding lasting solutions to politically-motivated violence as the country gears for harmonised elections expected this year.

In a speech read on his behalf by co-Minister in the Organ Sekai Holland, VP Nkomo said secretaries-general of the three political parties in the inclusive Government were reviewing the draft ahead of its endorsement.
“The code of conduct is voluntary. Political parties should be committed, through moral persuasion, to regulate the behaviour and conduct of their officials, members and supporters,” VP Nkomo said.

“This instrument is meant to embed zero tolerance to violence in all political engagements and processes where the internal disciplinary mechanisms and procedures would have to be enforced. Resort to legal enforcement would be through prevailing enacted laws.”
VP Nkomo said political parties should expel or facilitate the jailing of members who perpetrate violence.

VIOLENCE IN CHITUNGWIZA

He said peace and reconciliation were “evolving” processes whose responsibility belonged to all Zimbabweans.
“It is everyone’s duty to end violence. If all stakeholders put their heads together and implement what is being pushed by the organ I foresee the country being a violent- free nation,” said VP Nkomo.
“Zimbabweans, without exception, want sustainable peace to enjoy and celebrate life, the inherent freedoms and rights and undertake meaningful and rewarding

human development activities for the benefit of their families and communities. So everyone should play his or her part in this initiative.”
The church, VP Nkomo said, was a vital component in peace building efforts.

“We express our appreciation and gratitude for the inputs and critique from the church that contributed to the development of the infrastructure for peace and reconciliation in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The church also produced and distributed thought provoking papers on national healing.

“This shows the importance of the church in ensuring peace in the country.”

VP Nkomo urged the church to support the Zimbabwe National Policy Framework for Peace and Reconciliation, aimed at guiding and directing national healing and peace building efforts in the country.

The policy was approved by Cabinet recently. Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe president Dr Goodwill Shana said the church had been very “mindful” in reconciliation processes in the country.

He said Zimbabwe should strive to have more peace-makers.
“We are very mindful of the political dynamics in the GNU but we are there to work with every political party. The challenge that we have in the country is the search for peace, but we have a few peacemakers and this makes our life difficult,” he said.
Dr Shana said the church would continue nurturing a culture of tolerance and peace ahead of the anticipated harmonised elections.