● A 43 years old male, from Marange, (Mutare Diocese) insisted that: "Makurukota aana Sabhuku vakatiti kana muchida chikafu munoziva zvekuita, varikuda kuti tichinje mabato" (The Council of Village Heads told us that if you want food, you know what to do; they want us to change our political affiliations). Case 8 On 29 July 2018, food was distributed on partisan grounds by Mr. Mauto, a political party leader, at Befura Hall, Ward 3, Chivi North. This was one of several food and agriculture input ―donationǁ to the communities that were carried almost every week between the proclamation day and a day before the 30 July 2018 Harmonized Elections. All the ZANU PF supporters who were regarded as the ―legitimateǁ beneficiaries of the free maize were identifiable by their political party regalia. They climbed on top of bags of maize and said: ―all those who belong to MDC will not be given anything here, unless if they are left oversǁ. Since it was a day before election, a big fire was lit and tents were mounted for all those who had received maize to sleep over in order to cast their ballots the next day before going back to their homes. Political party opponents, especially those known to support MDC, have also been left out in the selection process for local, menial jobs such as clearing power lines or making fire guards. In this ward, women, especially widows, have been vulnerable because they feel for their children. They have been unwillingly conscripted into political campaign teams to sing and dance for male political candidates at rallies. One widow warned political opponent supporters: ―kindly tell your MDC candidate for Councillor to withdraw because if he wins, we will not be able to get free maize, agriculture inputs and cash vouchers. Case 9 I am a 74 years old man who was part of a group that formed ZAPU. I reside here in Silobela Ward 21. One Sunday before the elections, my village head requested for the names of all vulnerable and senior citizens like me to submit their names to benefit from maize donated by the Social Welfare. We were also asked to contribute $2 each for the ―administration costsǁ of the maize. As a senior citizen, I submitted my name. After a day, I got information from my village head that my name was not in ZANU PF register and therefore did not deserve to benefit. I questioned the village head who instructed me to contact the District Administrator (DA). I went to the DA's office where he told me to go to the Social Welfare office. I went to the Social Welfare office where I was told food is a right and therefore nobody was supposed to be left out. They advised me to go to the Member of Parliament (MP). I went to the MP who told me that he could not do anything because ―ndingatsva zvigumweǁ meaning ―I will be in trouble with the party if I reverse this decisionǁ. Agriculture inputs came. Some were given, many others, including me, were denied because of our political affiliations. Some have already been given twice. My tears always come out when I imagine my poverty as a senior citizen and how they have continued to deny me the basic right to food because I am ZAPU. They just want me - and all the other political opponents - to die of hunger just because we have different political ideas! Generally, Zimbabwean politics has been characterised by the inability to embrace and respect political diversity which manifests through the trading of insults, violence with impunity, lawlessness and hate speech within and between political parties. Some political parties have slogans that wish their opponents dead: ―hechoko, mudenga pasi bgwa - throw the political opponent in the sky and let them fall, crush and smash with a bangǁ; ―pasi na…ǁ - down with (political opponent). Such slogans are against right to human dignity and human life, key Social Teachings of the Church principles which are also guaranteed in Sections 48 and section 51 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013. Political opponents and those with alternative opinions deserve to live and should, in any circumstance, continue to be seen in the image of God who loved us first and created us in his image (Gen. 1:27). 4.1.3 Peace and Reconciliation – Avoiding Reliving Fear Accrued from Previous Electoral Violence Even today we raise our hand against our brother... We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves as if it were 19 normal we continue to sow destruction, pain, death. Violence and war lead only to death. 19 Words of Holy Father Pope Francis during a Vigil of Prayer for Peace. Saint Peter's Square: Saturday, 7 September 2013 11