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Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter
The Zimbabwe Amalgamated Churches Council (ZACC) yesterday said the country’s harmonised elections were held in a free, fair and peaceful environment.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, the organisation’s patron, Cde Jimayi Muduvuri, said the church was playing its part in continuing to pray for peace in the country.

He said since independence, this was the first time that the country had conducted elections in a peaceful manner and where there was freedom of expression and opening up of political space.

Cde Muduvuri said they were disturbed by the politically-motivated violence in which six people were killed after MDC-Alliance supporters went on the rampage destroying property, torching vehicles, blocking roads in Harare’s central business district.

“Our duty as churches is to pray for peace for our country,” he said. “The elections were held in a free, fair and credible environment.

“They were held peacefully, but we are worried about some opposition leaders that incited their supporters to cause the recent politically-motivated violence in the city.

“Some of them went to the extent of even announcing the results before the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which has the mandate to do so.

“If they had any grievances with whatever, they should have followed the normal procedures and approached the courts rather than unleashing violence.”

Cde Muduvuri said when anyone participates in an election, they expect to win, but they should be able to accept the results after they lose and not resort to violence.

ZACC secretary-general Reverend Barnabas Manongwa said: “We want to appreciate the democratic freedom of speech and expression that we have enjoyed for the first time in Zimbabwe under the leadership of President-elect Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. We also want to commend him for opening up of the political space.”