Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
Press Release
Date: 26 September 2013
Contact:
Emmanuel Ndlovu
Programmes
and Advocacy Manager
Bulawayo
Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
BPRA Holds Peace Road Shows
BULAWAYO Progressive
Residents Association (BPRA) will this weekend be holding two peace road shows
in Makokoba and Nkulumane as part of its Residents Building Peaceful
Communities Project. The road shows, pencilled in for Efusini in Makokoba on
Friday 27 September 2013 from 2pm to 6pm and Sekusile Shopping Centre in
Nkulumane on Sunday 29 September 2013 from 2pm to 6pm are meant to promote
peace and harmony among residents through the arts. Artistes lined up to
perform at the road shows include Nobuntu, Victory Siyanqoba and Clement
‘Magwaza’ Dube. The aim of the road shows is mainly to inculcate a culture of
tolerance and peaceful coexistence among residents regardless of their
political persuasions, ethnicity, religion or any other such delineations. In
line with this, BPRA is inviting residents from across the political divide and
from all cross sections of society to attend the road shows.
The peace road shows
will also serve as a platform to gather the views of residents on issues that
they feel should be addressed by the National Peace and Reconciliation
Committee that was ushered in with the signing of the new constitution. They
are meant as platforms to facilitate the participation of residents in coming
up with a framework for how the peace commission will be operationalized now
that elections have come and gone and a new government has assumed office. From
the consultations, BPRA will lobby parliamentarians and the government in
generality on the operations of the commission.
BPRA began its
Residents Building Peaceful Communities Project in 2012 after noting that there
was a need to address high levels of polarisation and intolerance among members
of society due to a myriad of reasons, including political discord and a
contentious history. The association had also noted that there was need for
peace initiatives before holding of the 31 July general elections in light of
violence experienced in the 2008 plebiscite. The holding of the road shows in
Makokoba and Nkulumane are a continuation of the project, post the 31 July
elections, to ensure that the peace that prevailed during the election period
is maintained.
Other activities that
BPRA has held under its Residents Building Peaceful Communities Project include
ward community dialogue meetings, constituency peace rallies and peace
concerts.
Signed
.........................................................
Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu
Programmes and Advocacy
Manager
Bulawayo Progressive
Residents Association (BPRA)
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