President preaches peace ahead of vote

HARARE - Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday reminded supporters of his ruling ZANU-PF party to shun political violence as he aimed toward a clean and violence-free victory in the July 30 elections.

Addressing thousands of supporters at a rally in Marondera, Mashonaland East Province, Mnangagwa said: "Why should we have violence? We are a big party, why should we bother about those who waste time demonstrating. We want this electoral process to be without any violence," he said.

Mnangagwa started his address by outlining programs the ruling party is planning to implement in the next five years and beyond. He said these include massive power and mining projects.

He said the government will prioritize modernizing agriculture to ensure resettled farmers increase production.

Meanwhile, a group of global leaders working to promote world peace and human rights have rallied Zimbabweans to vote in numbers in the polls, put the national interest first, reject all forms of violence and work together to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.

Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, head of the three-member delegation who have just wrapped up a three-day visit to Zimbabwe, told a media conference the upcoming poll was crucial for the country.

"You are at crossroads and the direction you will decide to move in is going to be extremely important and every Zimbabwean should vote, express their views and not sit back at home and complain after the elections," Annan said.

Annan, who hailed the improvement in fundamental freedoms in the country since end of 2017 was accompanied on the trip by former Ireland president Mary Robinson and former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi.

Xinhua

(China Daily 07/23/2018 page12)