The MDC is committed to sustainable peace, President Tsvangirai and Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister has said.

He made the call before thousands of people at the 2012 Peace Prayer Day held at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex at the weekend. President Tsvangirai’s remarks at the weekend set the record straight on the MDC position regarding violence. As a party, the MDC opposes any form of violence.

However, the State media have always blamed violent campaigns on the MDC when it is a fact that Zanu PF is behind this violence. “An eye for an eye makes Zimbabwe blind,” is the official MDC position, said the President.

President Tsvangirai lambasted those who engage in violent activities as ‘mabharanzi’ (people who do not think) adding that Zimbabweans should “pray
for the demon of violence”.

The President quoted the Biblical verses of Joshua and Corinthians which teach about love and peace. He also implored people to pray for their leaders. With reference to the Biblical verse which is normally quoted in support of Mugabe’s cling to power, President Tsvangirai said, “Kana neniwo
ndakasarudzwa naMwari,” (I am also from God) amid cheers from the capacity crowd.

Several men and women of the cloth took turns to pray for peace, Zimbabwe’s leaders and the general populace with Reverend Madawo declaring that; “we are the peace-makers”.

Present at the prayer were the MDC Deputy National Chairperson, Senator Morgen Komichi, Hon. Nelson Chamisa, the National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theresa Makone, the National Women’s Assembly, Hon. Murisi Zwizwai, Harare Central MP, Ian Makone, the Chief Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and several senior party officials.

A group of Zanu PF supporters wearing their party regalia, however attempted to gain entry and disrupt the meeting but alert security details did not entertain them.

According to analysts, this is an indication of how desperate the ‘sunset party’ has become – even trying to disrupt a peace prayer meeting. The
action by the hooligans vindicates the position that, unlike MDC, Zanu PF thrives on violence and intimidation of the electorate. Perhaps, this explains the non-attendance of their political leaders even though they were invited for the meeting, observed the analyst.

Several MDC supporters have been subjected to extreme violence at the hands of Zanu PF militia. A number of the supporters have lost their lives and
the police have been reluctant to take action.

In Harare, the Zanu PF-sponsored Chipangano has been unleashing a reign of terror ever since the former ruling party started campaigning for the
forthcoming elections. Only on Friday, a day before the Peace Prayer celebrations in Chitungwiza, an MDC branch treasurer in Mbare, Shepherd Bandau, was brutally murdered by 10 Chipangano thugs.

The Peace Prayer Day is an annual national event held in order to commit the people of Zimbabwe and the nation at large to God so that peace prevails in the country.

The event is organised by the Zimbabwe Pastors Fellowship comprising all religious leaders, including those from various apostolic sects. During the meeting, popular musicians,The Charamba Family, Blessing Shumba and several gospel musicians provided entertainment.

The theme for this year’s Peace Prayer Day was derived from the book of Jeremiah.

The success of the event is testimony that more and more people are now willing to embrace peace which guarantees human sanctity.