Let us agree on one thing from the onset: Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections are NOT going to be free, fair and credible. Not even one token democratic reform was implemented since the last elections in 2018 and so many of the flaws and illegalities pointed out in 2018 will be repeated this year.
“Notably, major shortcomings in the pre-election environment
impacted on the free expression of the will of electors, state resources were
misused in favour of the incumbent and coverage by state media was heavily
biased in favour of the ruling party,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission
final report.
“Further, the electoral commission lacked full independence
and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as
announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked
adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability. Finally, the
restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security
forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the
corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe
failed to meet international standards,” concluded the report.
The EU Observer Mission was 246-man strong. The report
included 23 recommendations to bring Zimbabwe elections to international
standards. Not even one of the recommendations has seen the light of day and so
many of the shortcomings that can be observed now such as the biased public
media, the failure to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc. are still there.
It is not that Zimbabwe’s opposition politician do not
accept that the elections are flawed and/or fail to see the sheer futility of
participating in such elections. They do understand all these things.
“Look, you can't keep on participating in flawed
electoral processes that serve to give big benefits to dictators such as Robert
Mugabe. Mugabe has perfected the art of winning elections. So it will be very
foolish for the opposition to continue legitimizing these sham elections which
don't deliver. This country will go through a serious economic crisis in 2020
caused by Zanu PF. And yet, this is the only country where a government doesn't
perform, it is encouraged by a super majority in parliament,” acknowledged
Tendai Biti in a 2015 interview with Isaac Mugabi.
“So, you can't continue subjecting Zimbabweans to processes
where their hopes just get crushed.”
Biti was the MDC-T Minister of finance during the 2008 to
2013 GNU and is one of the three Vice Presidents in the Nelson Chamisa led CCC.
He is certainly one of the heavy weights in Zimbabwe opposition politics.
Contrary to his own strongly expressed view not to drag the
nation through those futile elections, raising the people’s hopes of changed
only to see their hopes crushed, he and his opposition colleagues participated
in the 2018. Zanu PF rigged those elections and the peoples’ hopes and spirits
were crushed. The opposition is hell bent on participating in these 2023
elections as Nelson Chamisa has once again reiterated.
“Zimbabwe's main opposition leader has insisted that his
party is ready to participate in forthcoming elections, despite the rigging and
repression he said was already under way to keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa
in power,” reported Bulawayo24/FT.
“Chamisa, 45, dismissed calls for a boycott of the August vote, despite
widespread doubts over the process's credibility. "We will not allow
Zanu-PF to have a free lunch, we will not allow dictatorship to have a free rein.
We have to fight for change and we must give citizens the right to choose their
leadership," Chamisa said.
"Surrender is not an option . . . boycotting ourselves is not an
option."
It was David Coltart who was honest enough to admit the real
reason why MDC/CCC leaders will never boycott elections even when it was the “obvious
thing to do” is 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
(2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“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.”
David Coltart is another opposition heavy weight. He was an
MDC-N minister of education throughout the GNU and is the Treasurer General of
CCC.
Nelson Chamisa and his MDC/CCC friends’ political careers
are riddled through and through with corruption, betrayal, contradictions, rhetoric
and denials! They have been a curse and not a blessing to the nation and their
continued meddling in the nation’s affairs is a cancer second only to the Zanu
PF cancer.
There four tenets of the rule of law, specifically as regards
the laws pertaining to free, fair and credible elections, which Chamisa and his
friends are ignored but the consequence of their folly cannot be ignored:
1)
Elections must be free, fair and credible or the
process and results are meaningless. It is Zimbabwe’s failure to hold free,
fair and credible elections which is the root cause of the country being label
a pariah state. The political and economic consequences of this is the
dictatorship and the failed state. These elections are already disputed
elections by virtue the process being flawed and illegal. And as long as
Zimbabwe remains a pariah state, there will be no meaningful economic recovery
and the political paralysis will remain.
2)
Chamisa and company are insisting on
participating in these elections regardless of all the flaws, illegalities and
violence for whatever reasons, stated or denied, and thus accept the power and
authority of those officiating in these elections. The consequence is that CCC
must accept the results as annunciated by ZEC. Chamisa and company have been
warned the process is flawed and must be reformed before elections and they
freely chose to disregard the warning. They cannot therefore reject the results
just because they were not declared the winner. By participating they will have
given the process credibility and the results legitimacy; these cannot be
withheld or withdrawn afterwards, its too late.
3)
Of course, it is this iron clad guarantee that
the opposition will participate in these elections come what may that has given
Zanu PF the confidence to ignore demands for reforms and free elections. It
there is no punishment for breaking the law then there is no motive for
upholding the law especially when there is everything to be gained by breaking
the law.
Even during the dark heinous Apartheid era – was racial segregation against the Indian community in South Africa not the main reason a young lawyer by the name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi finally decided to return home to fight for India's independence from British colonial rule?
ReplyDeleteSo, why does it appear as if these people not only successfully managed to free themselves of colonial bondage – but also, of the shackles of its legacy?
As I look admiringly at those of Indian descent, I see a people who adamantly refuse to be held back by their history – but, have made a deliberate choice to move on with their lives.
This, tragically, is not what we see with us as Black people.
Nevertheless, when it appears as if we, as a people, are failing to move past that – then, that becomes worrying, since it holds us back.
Furthermore, I find it rather unsettling when we still find those amongst us whose main purpose in life appears solely to revive memories of slavery and colonialism, as well as how we are still treated today.
I always ask myself, "Whilst we are busy doing that, what would others – who suffered, and are still suffering, a similar fate as ours – doing?"
Are they not moving on with life, unperturbed, as they make themselves a better people, and climbing up the rungs of power and influence in the world?
That is why I found the recent utterances by, and subsequent suspension of, British Labour Party MP Diane Abbott, quite saddening and unfortunate.
The very fact that she could trivialize the racism faced by other ethnicities, such as Jews and the Irish – displays this obsession by us, as Blacks, in wanting to portray our own suffering as greater than anyone else's.
That is how we then find ourselves trapped in this self-imposed dungeon – whereby, we allow our past, and even our present, dictate to us, and hold us back from moving ahead.”
You have hit the nail on the head there once again Mbofana. Thanks!
This weakness to see ourselves as helpless victims of the white colonial oppression has allowed dictators like Mugabe and Mnangawa to hide their own failures and shortcomings under the smoke screen of fighting off the white oppressors. By dressing the opposition and all their critics as puppets of the white Zanu PF has exercise carte blanche oppressive measures. The colonial link has never been proven but the naïve and gullible public have accepted it as fact!
It is very sad that 43 years after independence we are still fighting for all the basic and fundamental rights and freedoms. It does not help that whenever we get a chance to turnover a new leaf those entrusted with this task sell out as did MDC/CCC leaders!
The Civil Registry Department will from next Monday send 129 national mobile registration units out again to process and facilitate the issuance of national documents required for voter registration.
ReplyDeleteThe exercise will be conducted countrywide up to July 31 and the department has since published in the media, the places and days where these teams will visit.
The programme is meant to provide citizens with an opportunity to obtain national identity documents so they can register as voters in the upcoming 2023 harmonised elections if they are not already on the voters roll.
The registration exercise, with a $24 billion budget, was being conducted in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission mobile biometric voter registration blitz ahead of harmonised elections scheduled for this year.
We have seen videos of rural folk bused in from Domboshava, Goromonzi and other areas into Harare registering to vote. We know from the past that voters have been bused in from one place to another to vote! No one can realistically expect all those who have registered in the last few months to be screened and added to the voters’ roll and so will be allowed to vote if the produce their voter registration slip. Therefore, all this last minute, “chipatapata nhaka yamakonzo” voter registration makes sense!
There tragedy for Zimbabwe is that the opposition know that these elections are flawed, know that by participating they give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy and still they participate 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 (2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“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.”
Of course, it does not help when the nation gets a get out of jail card and waste it because those entrusted to implement the reforms have been paid to do nothing. MDC/CCC are paying lip service to reforms and free election, they did not implement even one token reform when they had the golden chance to do so during the 2008 to 2013 GNU it is naïve to expect them to do so now!
@ Godfrey
ReplyDelete“ED is assured of SADC Certificate of legitimacy - Judging from SADC’s. own comments
So, participation or non will not change anything.”
I totally agree with you there, ANC has already said that it will not support – sanctions induced - regime change in Zimbabwe.
It is even more important that we show SADC that regime change in Zimbabwe is the democratic wish of the people only they are being deny the opportunity to show it because the elections are rigged. We must also put distance between ourselves and CCC who are participating in these flawed elections out of greed. We must not give SADC the excuse to endorse these election and grant Zanu PF legitimacy!
@ JC
ReplyDelete“Please let people practice their democratic right of choosing their leaders. The opposition always wins in urban settlements. This shows that there are some merits in the voting process.
What the opposition need to do is to show that areas under their jurisdiction are better managed and they must represent the people in parliament. So far they have dismally failed. No better than Zanu PF.
What we have seen in the past is them fighting amounts themselves to gain party assets and MPs. They forgot representing the people.
Which country holds free and fair elections??? America? If so why were they complaining about rigging.”
Zanu PF is banking on that shallow mentality – as long as we allow a few to win gravy train seats the opposition will participate no matter what!
Are the rural voters who are frogmarched to vote for Zanu PF not allowed to exercise their democratic right too?
What difference does CCC winning a few urban MPs if Zanu PF win the majority and the presidency and thus perpetuating the dictatorship. How long are we going to forfeit reforms, free elections and good governance to allow a few greedy opposition leaders to collect their 30 pieces of silver?
The very fact that you are defending the insanity of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy, even now after 43 years of rigged elections, only goes to show just how shallow and naïve you are. It also explains why the country is in this mess, with such as you for voters, what else!
“Which country holds free and fair elections??? America?” Fcuk me! So you want to tell me the blatant cheating and wanton violence by Zanu PF thugs is comparable to what is happening in USA!!!!! You really are a village idiot!
This is sounding more like there will be reruns until the preferred candidate wins - it is not easy to rig when the other side is doing the same, and is equally good at it! "Matsotsi haagerani!2 as one would say in Shona!
ReplyDelete@ JC
ReplyDelete“When reasoning stops 🛑 some men starts to scold others or use physical power to force their thoughts into others. Then are you a democrat? You can't swallow different views.
The few urban seats are far much better than the zero you are advocating.”
You are right I cannot swallow idiotic arguments. Of course it is idiotic to argue that it is ok to allow an election process in which millions are frogmarched to vote, 3 m in the diaspora are denied the vote, there is not even a verified voters' roll, etc., etc. as long as Tendai Biti and a few others are allowed seats on the gravy train. The war of independence was fought so that all Zimbabweans can live in peace and dignity not a select few in the opposition and their Zanu PF ruling elite masters.
If you think you can say this rubbish and then hide under the smoke screen of “different view” or “democratic right” think again. You don’t have the right to belittle others much less to deny them their freedoms and rights. Do that and you will be told off in no uncertain terms.
We are talking here of Zimbabwe’s failure to hold free and fair elections for 43 years and the need to end this insanity. The consequences of this failure is the economic meltdown and the heart breaking human suffering and unnecessary deaths. You cannot keep on trivialising the suffering of millions out there with foolish arguments designed to perpetuate the vote rigging and dictatorship. If you have nothing useful to say shut up.
You have missed the point - if Zimbabwe was democratic nation, which the Second Republic is supposed to be, and citizens could air their anger freely, would there be Zimbabweans out there who would join in and shout Mbavha? I would say, yes! This is what made this video so popular - it is saying what millions would want to say but will not dare to say it!
ReplyDelete"Zanu PF must refrain from dirty poll tactics!" Well that is one lead balloon that will never fly! Why should Zanu PF do that and risk losing the elections especially when the party knows it can use the dirty tactics and get away with it. CCC will participate in these flawed elections no matter how dirty the tactics get - they are paid and paid well to participate!
ReplyDelete@ JC
ReplyDelete“Show us how that can be achieved by having zero seats or no representation. You repeat day in and out the problem and giving a silly solution. Yes I will not argue with you.”
If the seats you are allowed to have are only to give the process legitimacy then it is foolish to take those seats especially when you also know those taking those seats sold out on the golden opportunity to implement reforms that would have guaranteed free, fair and credible elections for all.
You have made up your foolish mind, your village idiot mind, to participate in these flawed elections and any solution saying otherwise in “a silly solution”. If you will not listen to reason then you deserve to be put in you place – the village idiot corner!
After 43 years of rigged elections it is insane to allow this to continue and the only way to stop village idiots like you participating is by taking them by the scuff of the neck and shake them like a doll! Everyone, I mean everyone including the VIs must know that Zanu PF is rigging 2023 elections, CCC is participating out of greed and the ordinary people will do so out of fear (rural folk) or ignorance (VIs). Everyone must know this especially the VIs, hence the need to shake them and make sure they are awake for this one!
ONE of the country's traditional leaders has told government to give them more freebies for them to earn respect from their subjects.
ReplyDeleteThe new demands come hardly a month after President Emerson Mnangagwa promised to hand over top-of-the-range cars to the chiefs in a gesture he said was meant to make sure that they help Zanu-PF win elections later this year.
However, Chief Svosve of Hwedza said traditional leaders deserved more.
"We have MPs (Members of Parliament) given cars to work with so why should we not be given cars, loans and seating allowances," Svosve told NewsDay on the sidelines of an agriculture field day in Hwedza on Thursday.
"Chiefs should be treated with respect and be given more perks.
"In fact, we are being short-changed as we should be treated as kings and given spacious houses and bodyguards to protect us."
The patronage system has rewarded individuals for their blind loyalty to Zanu PF leaders and the party’s no regime change ethos at the expense of merit and hard work. We used to be known for our good work ethics and now we are known for expecting to ripe where we never sowed and those of us without the political connection to join the looting brigade, we beg.
Chief Svosve is begging for more freebies from Zanu PF for himself knowing fully well that millions of ordinary Zimbabweans are living in abject poverty. He wants the regime to reward him and his fellow chiefs for their work as Zanu PF political commissars denying the ordinary people their freedoms and rights for the sole purpose of keeping Zanu PF in power.
Chief Rekayi Tangwena fought a running battle with the white regime demanding his people’s rights to own land and live in dignity. Since independence Chiefs have worked hard to deny their people their freedoms and human dignity for the purpose of keeping Zanu PF in power. Chief Tangwena must be spinning in his grave!
The Chiefs and village heads had been corrupted by the whites and then Zanu PF to serve them and not the people. These institutions must go they now serve no real purpose given there are elected councillors and local government.
Of course Zanu PF will knows how each one voted especially in the rural areas! Why otherwise do you think Zanu PF replaced the constituency voters' roll with polling station voters' roll and increase the number of polling stations from 10 in 2008 to 45 and 55 in 2013 and 2018 respectively.
ReplyDeleteZanu PF is rigging these elections CCC is participating knowing fully well the elections are flawed and that participating will give Zanu PF legitimacy. They are participating regardless because they also know that Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats to entice the opposition to participate and this they have found irresistible.
Zanu PF is frogmarching the rural voters to be absolutely certain who voted and with 400 or so per Polling Station they will easily single out those who voted for the opposition. “Operation green mango – yellow inside and green outside!” Yeah right! These hare-brain strategies will never fool anyone!