The Americans, the opposition and everyone who genuinely want to see an end to Zimbabwe’s curse of rigged elections and bad governance must be careful not to send mixed and confusing messages.
The 2018 elections proved, as if we needed any such proof, that it is impossible to hold free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe without first implementing democratic reforms. We know, for example, that 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote. And that ZEC failed to produce something as fundamental to democratic elections a verified voters’ roll; a legal and common-sense requirement.
It should be noted here that the law calls for the production of a verified voters’ roll at least a month before nomination day. ZEC not only failed to meet the nomination day deadline it failed to produce a verified voters’ roll for the voting day itself or thereafter. There is no verified voters’ roll in Zimbabwe! None!
“We also note the government’s selective enforcement of Covid-19 regulations to indefinitely postpone by-elections and prohibit MDC Alliance gatherings, while permitting internal elections and gatherings for the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) party and its allies to go forward,” said US Department of State, according to a New Zimbabwe report.
“Zanu PF is misusing the levers of government to silence critics, neutralise opposition, and entrench its political power over the Zimbabwean people.”
The US Department was reacting to recent reports that ZEC would resume voter registration and other activities. However the holding of by-elections will remain suspended.
Are we saying it is ok to hold by-elections with no verified voters’ roll?
In less than two and half years Zimbabwe will once again go to the polls and not even one of the raft of democratic reforms has been implemented. I would rather pressure this Zanu PF regime to implement the reforms and make sure 2023 elections are free, fair and credible than waste time and resources holding fraudulent by-elections.
If Zanu PF fails to implement the reforms before the 2023 elections; millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora are denied the vote, there is no verified voters’ roll, etc., etc.; the plebiscite must be declared null and void. We must not give Zanu PF the excuse for failing to implement the reforms.
We know that Chamisa and his friends in the opposition camp are the ones itching for the by-elections regardless how flawed and illegal the process happens to be. They have participated in similar fraudulent elections in the past because they also know that Zanu PF gives away a few gravy train seats to entice the opposition – these they find irresistible.
Of course, Chamisa et al are selling out in participating in flawed and illegal elections giving the process credibility and the result legitimacy to feed their insatiable greed. We should be condemning these opposition opportunists and not be seen as their cheerleaders!
“What you should consider seriously and understand is that Magufuli was not fighting against the existence of the Covid-19 virus per se. Rather, against what the West is doing in Afrika, ranging from efforts to continue colonizing the continent indirectly, exploiting the natural resources for next to nothing pennies to the dollar. If you stay long in the Diaspora, your eyes get muddied and your brain gets washed and before long, you begin to think and talk like "them".
ReplyDeleteYou are not the only one who welcomed Magufuli as a breath of fresh air given the decades of foul hot air coming from the likes of Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
Still, Magufuli certainly lost the plot when he failed to take the threat of corona virus with the seriousness and urgency the matter demanded. Yes, Magufuli did fight against covid-19 per se! Worst of all, the consequences of his failed leadership on the matter will have costed many people in Tanzania untold human suffering and many lives. And it is right and proper that Nomazulu and many others held him to account for this.
The trouble with some people, I am not saying this is the case here, is that they make the mistake of placing leaders on such high pedestals they view them as infallible demigods. It is no surprise that some African leaders have often viewed themselves as infallible demigods with tragic consequences as was the case with Mugabe and now Mnangagwa in Zimbabwe and in Tanzania with Magufuli.
Legend has it that as each time a conquering Emperor rod back to Rome in triumph some one would ride beside him whispering “Remember you are human!” I would not dare suggest that to Mnangagwa, he will take it as a person insult!
@ Dr Masimba Mavaza
ReplyDeleteOf course, the Americans are wrong in blaming Zanu PF for Tendai Biti and many other MDC A elected officials' recall. Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa are corrupt and incompetent and it is no surprise they shot themselves in the foot, again it must be said.
The Americans are also wrong in adding their voice to calls for the by-elections to go ahead. They know as well as everybody that without first implementing the democratic reforms elections are a waste of time and resources and certainly not worth risking people's health and live during these corona virus times.
“Surely America must be ashamed. United States involvement in regime change describes United States government participation or interference, both overt and covert, in the replacement of foreign governments,” you said.
Zanu PF has pretended the only people calling for free elections are the Americans and their allies and their Zimbabweans puppets for the sole purpose of regime change.
The truth is Zanu PF has rigged elections to falsify it has the people’s mandate to rule. It has ignored the voices of ordinary Zimbabweans demanding the implementation of the democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Why is it inconceivable to you and your Zanu PF masters that ordinary Zimbabweans would too want to enjoy the basic human right to have a meaningful say in the governance of Zimbabwe?
In the 1980 elections, Zanu PF made it clear the bush war would continue if the party lost the elections. And ever since the party has used all manner of dirty tricks including blatant cheating and use of wanton violence to make sure there is no regime change.
Actually, it is you and your Zanu PF masters who should be ashamed of riding roughshod over your fellow Zimbabweans denying them their freedoms, rights and human dignity to feed your insatiable greed for power and looted wealth! One of these fine days you will be held to democratic account; I will see to that myself!
For the record, Tendai Biti is no longer the American’s “blue eyed boy” he was once upon a time! Many Americans know MDC leaders are corrupt and incompetent, especially after they failed to implement even one reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU!
@ Abednico Mwembe Mwembe
ReplyDelete“You see wena masipa Biti was not recalled by pple who elected him if you doubt it lets have by elections and see if those zanu puppets who recalled him will win that parliament seat. You cannot call zanu assisted recalls democratic. No way in the world has the national securities been used to settle opposition parties internal disagreements only in zim. why? But zanu is going like it or not mdc alliance will have the last laugh.”
It is dimwits like you would are perpetuating the Zanu PF dictatorship!
Zanu PF has been rigging elections for the last 41 years and you complain about it and yet lack the common sense to demand the reforms to stop the rigging. Zanu PF has been offering a few gravy train seats to entice the greed opportunists to participate in flawed and illegal elections; when are you ever going to open your eyes and see it!
Tendai Biti and company participated in the 2018 elections knowing that Zanu PF would rig the elections but will also give away a few seats! We forfeited the nation project of free, fair and credible elections because Biti and company could not resist the bait!
You want to go into the by-elections; what guarantees do you have that Zanu PF will not rig? None!
You MDC sell-outs and dimwits are now as much a threat to democratic change in Zimbabwe as Zanu PF and its apologists!
If we agree the 2018 elections were rigged and the opposition should not have participated in these elections and that by participating they gave legitimacy to the Zanu PF regime. Then clearly Tendai Biti and all those opposition politicians who participated sold out. We have better things to do than sympathise with these seasoned sell-outs!
ReplyDeleteLest people should forget, we are in this mess because Biti and his MDC friends failed to implement the democratic reforms during the 2008 GNU that would have stopped Zanu PF rigging elections once and once for all!
This was revealed by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in its latest report.
ReplyDeleteMost of the returnees were drawn from South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Europe.
"Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 174 291 migrants have returned to Zimbabwe... With Zimbabwe's COVID-19 restrictions gradually relaxed, IOM continues to promote safe and orderly migration as well as to protect the rights and dignity of migrants in Zimbabwe," the United Nations agency said.
Many of these migrants were economic refugees and they are returning to a country is an even worse economic mess than when they left! And the corona virus storm is still raging on and its ill effect on the national economy is too raging on. The economic meltdown is set to drag the nation into new depths of economic despair and of human misery and deaths!
What makes Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown hard to bear is that it is a man-made crisis. 41 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness that have earned the country the pariah state label are the root causes of the country’s mess. Zimbabweans have not taken their duty and responsibility of making sure the country has a competent government with the seriousness the matter demanded and the nation is paying dearly for it!
Zimbabweans must wake up and demand good governance or they will continue to suffer and die – it is that simple!
He did not know who Rukanda was before the recall but now he know who Rukanda is! He has lost the US$50 000 car, the generous salary and perks and may never ever be elected back into public office ever again.
ReplyDeleteKucaca Phulu participated in the 2018 elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF was rigging the elections and that doing so would give legitimacy to Zanu PF. He, like the rest, participated regardless because he was after the few gravy train seats Zanu PF was giving away to entice the opposition. Of course, Phulu and the rest of the opposition politicians sold-out!
MDC A MP, Chikudo, switch and join MDC-T led by Mwonzora!
ReplyDeleteMDC A leaders who contested the July 2018 elections, just like the rest in the opposition camp, did so out of greed. They all knew that Zanu PF was rigging the elections but also knew that the party was giving away a few seats to enice the opposition. They did not care the elections were not free and fair as long as they win the few bait seats. It is therefore sheer hypocrisy to expect the same individual to become principled now.
The choice was to switch from MDC A to MDC-T or lose the gravy train seat and it is no surprise many switched. They are those who had nailed their colours with Chamisa, they could not switch and knew the fate was sealed!