A Commonwealth team headed by Assistant Secretary-General,
Prof. Luis Franceschi, is in Zimbabwe today, Saturday 12th until
Thursday, 17th November 2022.
The delegation's visit is a part of the informal process of assessing
Zimbabwe's request for re-admission into the Commonwealth. Like most other
former British colonies, Zimbabwe was a member but was booted out for failing to
adhere to the organisation’s values and principles.
Zimbabwe is a failed state led by ruthless and cantankerous
thugs. Ever since the country’s independence in 1980, Zanu PF thugs who have ridden
roughshod over the ordinary people; denying them their basic freedoms and
rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country
and even the right to life!
In 2003, after repeated warning to the regime to stop
rigging elections and other serious human rights violation, it clear the
organisation was going to boot Zimbabwe out. Mugabe jumped before he was
pushed!
Soon after the 2017 military coup that ousted the late
dictator Robert Mugabe after 37 years as head of Zanu PF and head of state; Emmerson
Mnangagwa, his successor, has pushed hard to have Zimbabwe readmitted into the
Commonwealth. He was told one of the key demands would be for Zimbabwe would be
for the 2018 elections must be free, fair and credible.
Zanu PF refused to implement even one token reform and went
on to blatantly rig the elections. The regime failed to produce even something
as basic as a verified voters’ roll, failed to stamp out corruption, etc., etc.
and thus confirmed that the 2017 military coup had changed nothing. Zimbabwe
was still a pariah state ruled by thugs and all that had changed.
The Commonwealth had no choice but to turn down Zimbabwe’s 2018
application for re-joining.
Since the 2018 elections Zanu PF has not implemented even one
token democratic reforms to suggest the regime’s willing to embrace change and
rule of law. Not a sausage!
Indeed, Zimbabwe is heading for new nationwide elections next
year, as early as March and July at the latest. And all the signs show that
Zanu PF is set to rig these elections and is even using wanton violence to be
absolutely certain of electoral victory.
It is therefore disconcerting that a high-power Commonwealth
membership assessment team is in Zimbabwe, suggesting the organisation is
considering the country’s application serious consideration. Like it or not
will claim the visit is proof that the country is no longer a pariah state and
the regime’s re-engagement drive is working.
It would be unforgivable if the Commonwealth was to readmit
Zimbabwe BEFORE the 2023 elections. It will be a propaganda coup, for Zanu PF.
It would be unforgivable if the Commonwealth was to endorse
a Zanu PF rigged 2023 election, giving the regime legitimacy and thus perpetuating
the dictatorship. If an autocratic ruled Zimbabwe is welcome back into the
Commonwealth then Zimbabwe will be walking out of Commonwealth at the earliest
opportunity, the Commonwealth will not be the right organisation for a self-respecting
and democratic Zimbabwe!
The article is malicious. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has different perks to all other Members of Parliament since he has the status of a Cabinet Minister.
ReplyDeleteThe Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly has the status of a Deputy Minister and gets perks slightly bigger than other Members of Parliament.
This was always the case and it is Government Protocol.
Gibson Sibanda back then in 2000 until 2008 was given these packages when he was the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
After the 2013 elections, Thokozani Khupe was the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and got the same packages.
The Opposition Ministers including Chamisa, Biti, Ncube, David Coltart, etc got perks including Mercedes Benz cars. They also got land, in particular Nyanga, as Ministers. There are government records to prove this if anyone cares to check.
President Douglas Mwonzora started farming in Nyanga in as far back as 1998 and there is nothing sinister about him being a farmer and its on record.
The package he got as Leader of the Opposition is no different from those received by his predecessors.
This is one of the smear campaigns by people who have no knowledge of Government Protocol, Processes and Procedures and Governance.
In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the 2008 GNU, admitted that the opposition knew Zanu PF was rigging 2013 elections and that participating would give Zanu PF legitimacy. Still they participated regardless out of greed.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
There have been many doubting Thomas out there who have refused to believe MDC/CCC are participating in these flawed elections out of greed. Now they are hearing about the greed from the horses’ own mouth.
Chamisa and company KNOW Zanu PF is rigging the 2023 elections, KNOW the rational thing would be to boycott the elections and KNOW by participating they are giving Zanu PF legitimacy. They WILL participate regardless because they also KNOW there are a number of gravy train seats on offer as bait. Chamisa and company are after the bait!