Exercise Tolerance, Says Zimbabwe Vice President Mujuru

Republic of Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru. Zimbabwe is building relations with other African, Asian and Latin American states to offset the impact of Western sanctions., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Exercise tolerance, says VP Mujuru

Friday, 27 July 2012 00:00
Bulawayo Bureau
Zimbabwe Herald

VICE-President Joice Mujuru yesterday urged Zimbabweans and political parties to exercise tolerance and reject violence in the run-up to the constitution referendum and harmonised elections.

Speaking at a pass-out parade at Ntabazinduna Police Depot, where 378 recruits graduated, VP Mujuru encouraged political parties and individuals to exercise the virtue of tolerance by championing the call for violence-free elections.

“The country is in the process of finalising the drafting of our constitution, which is going to be followed by a referendum and general elections. These processes are vital in affording our people the opportunity to voice their opinion and as such, we should shun all forms of violence,” said VP Mujuru.

Government, she said, was committed to economically empowering Zimbabweans and every citizen had an important part to play to ensure everyone benefited from indigenisation.

“The Government is committed to ensuring that Zimbabweans are in total control of key sectors of the economy such as mining, manufacturing, tourism and agriculture as evidenced by the ongoing indigenisation process. It is the responsibility of every Zimbabwean, regardless of political affiliation, to unconditionally support this economic empowerment drive. Accordingly, police officers, like every other Zimbabwean should benefit,” she said.

VP Mujuru said Zimbabweans should be motivated by the instructive words of their ancestors who said the wealth of the country should be preserved for future generations.

“Okhokho basitshiyela ilifa, asililondolozele izizukulwane ezizayo,” said VP Mujuru, drawing applause from the crowd for her efforts to speak in IsiNdebele.

She said she was pleased to note that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) continued to revere the protracted liberation struggle as reflected by the inclusion of Zimbabwe’s political history in its training curriculum.

The VP said the country was progressive at present due to the supreme sacrifices made by both the living and departed gallant sons and daughters of the soil.

“Indeed, imparting valuable knowledge to the graduands about the protracted liberation struggle enhances their appreciation of programmes such as the Land Reform and Indigenisation Economic Empowerment being undertaken by Government to address colonial imbalances,” she said.

VP Mujuru commended the police force for continuously supporting people-focused Government programmes.

“Considering this, I am convinced that the various police initiatives, including the Tourism Police Unit, shall ensure peace and tranquillity prevails, before, during and after the World Tourism Organisation, General Assembly, which is to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia next year. This occasion, besides boosting foreign currency inflow, affords us an important platform to showcase Zimbabwe as a hospitable and investor friendly destination,” said VP Mujuru.

She said she was impressed by the fact that 84 of the 378 graduating recruits were female, representing 22 percent of the graduands.

“This shows the organisation’s commitment to immense contribution towards the empowerment and upliftment of the girl child in line with the Millennium Development Goals,” said VP Mujuru.

“I would like to encourage female police officers and, indeed, all Zimbabwean women, to scale great heights in their relevant professions by transcending societal barriers which relegate them to menial duties.”

She urged the graduands to shun irresponsible behaviour that might impact negatively on their aspirations to rise to lofty heights in their professions and sought to inspire them with the words of an anonymous author; “This police force is respected because its members have conscious discipline.

They have come together and they fight not for the private interests of a few individuals or a narrow clique, but for the interests of the people and of the whole nation.

The sole purpose of this force is to stand firmly with the people and serve them whole-heartedly.”

Among the courses undertaken by the recruits were human rights, weapon handling, the history of Zimbabwe, community policing, public order management, police powers, procedure and the law of evidence.

Dignitaries who attended the event included police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, Governor and Resident Minister of Matabeleland North, Thokozile Mathuthu, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Obert Mpofu, Co-Ministers of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi and Theresa Makone, Senator for Bubi-Umguza Lot Mbambo, senior officers from the armed forces, traditional leaders and captains of industry.