Volatile Masvingo Province Sees Decline in Violence
Jonga Kandemiiri
Perennially plagued by cross-party conflict, Zimbabwe's Masvingo Province has seen a sharp decline in cases of politically-motivated violence since last December.
Officials cite rising tolerance between followers of the three political parties in the inclusive government as the main factor.
The Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC), charged with enforcing the power-sharing agreement between Zanu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations, said its pro-peace campaign in the province is bearing positive results.
War veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, a Zanu PF supporter, has long been accused of unleashing a reign of terror in the province against real or perceived MDC followers. But reports say the situation has improved.
JOMIC provincial chairman Wilstaff Sitemere of the MDC party of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said sensitization programs run by his committee appear to have played a key role in highlighting the dangers of political violence.
Sitemere told Studio 7 that JOMIC is doing its best to cover the whole province even though they face resistance in certain areas.
