MIRROR REPORTER

Heal Zimbabwe Trust launched its flagship Peace Campaign for the 2023 general election in Zaka on March 23, 2023. The campaign dubbed #AsOne anchors on the three pillars of Tolerance, Harmony and Ubuntu.
The launch was in the form of a nhimbe in line with Heal Zimbabwe Trust’s tradition of using traditional and customary convening platforms. Local leaders of diverse political parties, traditional leaders, and community leaders of Ward 19 and 7 in Zaka attended the launch.
All the present traditional leaders took turns to encourage the 79 villagers present to participate freely and peacefully in the upcoming harmonized elections and prevent a repeat of dark episodes of past electoral violence, particularly the 2008 violent elections that claimed lives and livelihoods in Zaka. Ward 19 councillor, Imbayago, emphasized the importance of tolerance and social cohesion at community and national levels in order to build and foster peace. Other community leaders touched on unity and peace, thanking Heal Zimbabwe Trust for the work done in Zaka for the past decade of peace-building and healing. Heal Zimbabwe Trust representative, Tapiwanashe Chiriga explained the key pillars anchoring the campaign and the theme message of the Campaign: Harmony in Diversity.
Heal Zimbabwe Trust Executive Director Mr Rashid Mahiya said they will take the campaign across the country with a critical focus on areas that have traditionally been hot spots of political violence and intolerance to encourage peaceful participation, tolerance and harmony in the diversity of political choices.