Zimbabwe's provincial inter-party liaison committees of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee, or Jomic, met in Mashonaland West and Bulawayo Thursday to deliberate on increasing cases of political violence in the provinces.
Independent groups charge that political violence has been on the rise in most provinces in the country as President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party continue to push for polls this year, even in the absence of crucial reforms and a new constitution.
Chairman John Mafa of ZANU-PF and also the Mashonaland West JOMIC liaison committee, told the VOA his province is investigating 11 cases of political violence involving teachers.
He said political violence victims should not shy away from narrating their ordeals, in particular reporting to the police to ensure such incidents are investigated and perpetrators arrested.
Qhubani Moyo, JOMIC representative for the Welshman Ncube formation of the Movement for Democratic Change told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga reports from their liaison committees reveal that the level of violence in the country has decreased.
Activists, however, differ with churches asking the government to involve them in their peace and reconciliation programs in the communities.