Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association will be conducting a door to door campaign in Vuwani, urging the voters to come out in their majority to elect the African National Congress as their party of choice on the 3rd August 2016 local government elections. We also urge the security forces of the country to ensure that no one is allowed to intimidate the citizens who in their majority want to exercise their democratic right to vote.

We uphold the right of citizens to freedom of expression and the exercise of a democratic choice in our country's elections. As military veterans' we were at the forefront of the struggle for democracy, and therefore we are deeply concerned by the rumors that there is a so called task committee, which is intimidating people not to vote. In our knowledge, the ANC led government has met with the leadership of the people of Vhuwani and agreed that their concerns regarding demarcation are being addressed.

However, it seems that those who are against progress and development, but bent on advancing their selfish ambitions at the expense of the people, are intimidating the people, and threatening them with violence should they vote. Our stance in this matter is that there are democratic platforms in this country to address any concerns. Threatening people with violence is illegal and not one of those platforms. The people of Vhuwani must be respected and protected against selfish thuggery of renegades who want to use them.

The people of Vhuwani have recently experienced the pain of violence and wanton destruction of schools and other public amenities by faceless traitors. They have had to endure this fear and destruction through the acts of people who have chosen violence when peaceful means of resolving differences are available and can be used meaningfully. This torture of the people of Vhuwani must stop. Like all South Africans, they must be allowed to exercise their democratic right to vote.

Issued by MKMVA HQ