DEAR EDITOR—I am concerned about the increasing polarisation of our country and the political intolerance—which threatens to eat away the core of our values. I am one of those people who have belonged to more than one political party in the country.
I was a member of the Forum Party and the MDC; but I have friends who have been members of ZUM, PF Zapu and Zanu PF. It has never occurred to me that I could write this opinion today because of intolerance in our country.
The beliefs, values, and attitudes toward politics held by ordinary people - impedes or promotes the consolidation of democratic reform.
I think if we are truly concerned about the advancement of democracy in our country, we should stop calling others names—whether MDC or Zanu PF; otherwise we are mirroring the very situation that we are fighting against. This relates to every Zimbabwean who claims to be fighting for democracy in the country.
Political intolerance is a disease that will destroy our country. It will make us hate our neighbour and live with suspicion. Suspicion breeds contempt and contempt causes violence.
At the rate at which we are calling each other names and blaming our neighbour and not ourselves; we are definitely creating a very unpredictable future.
Let’s think before we criticise our neighbour and really question our motive; in case we might need to work with them in the future.
Nyasha Maunze
Johannesburg, South Africa
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READER OPINIONS
Ranga • tomtawa@gmail.com Subject: Thanks Fri, 09 May 2008 10:53:41 • Thanks Nyasha. Warlord politics is counter-productive.
Arthur Gwagwa • arthurgwagwa@yahoo.com Subject: Your views touch my heart Thu, 08 May 2008 23:24:22 • Nyasha your views have really touched me. Sometimes I think I am too naive when I dream of a Zimbabwe in which we co-exist in harmony and peace. This is my heart cry everyday but it seems people appear to see the world in a different way.
Our attitude towards conflict and each other is dragging us into the drain. I wonder why people just cant forgive and move on. Perhaps its not as easy as that.
All we can do Nyasha is to play our party diligently in spreading this message of peace and tolerance through every available avenue. We may not be able to win all the people but there will certainly be an impact in the long run.
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