President Mnangagwa yesterday spoke out against people abusing the democratic space ushered in by the Second Republic saying
such behaviour had no place in the new dispensation.
Addressing a Presidential Graduation Parade at Morris Depot, on the first anniversary of the launch of Operation Restore Legacy that
ushered in the new dispensation, the
President urged people to entrench
constitutionalism and promote democratic tenets.
“The advent of the new dispensation and the Second Republic saw the expansion of democratic space in our country, as enshrined in our Constitution. This culminated in the
holding of peaceful, free, fair and credible harmonised general elections.
“However, it is regrettable that some
retrogressive, unpatriotic and selfish
individuals are bent on abusing the
democracy we now enjoy,” President
Mnangagwa said.
The new dispensation opened up democratic space with individuals and civic groups now openly expressing themselves although some have taken advantage of the openness to engage in violent demonstrations and propagation of hate speech, especially on social media.
He added that the findings of the
Commission of Inquiry into the violence that took place on August 1 would be made public once it completes its work.
“The unfortunate and violent incident that took place in the streets of Harare on the 1st of August 2018, is not only regrettable, but has no place in the new Zimbabwe.
“The Commission of Inquiry looking into the event is expected to complete its work soon and its findings will be made public,”President Mnangagwa – state media