SEOM condemn 2023 elections and should have denied Mnangagwa legitimacy now can't deny him SADC chairmanship. W Mukori

 “Last year SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM), led by Dr Nevers Mumba of Zimbabwe, reported that Zimbabwe’s election process was flawed and illegal. The regional body should have denied the Zanu PF political legitimacy, at the very least. 

So, thanks to the indecision by SADC leaders, Mnangagwa became president of Zimbabwe for the next five years and, in a few days now, will become chairman of the regional body for a year. He is, per se, illegitimate for Pete’s sake. And now we must await the consequences of what tomorrow brings with having him at the helm.

“As Zimbabwe faces criticism for the arrest of political activists, South Africa has stated that it cannot influence the decision to move the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit from Harare,” reported Bulawayo 24.

“Despite calls from opposition groups within Zimbabwe and the region to relocate the summit due to concerns over human rights violations, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has emphasized that hosting the summit is a matter of tradition within SADC.”

True, it is normal practice that the incoming chair of SADC would host the summit; that makes perfect sense. However what SA and the rest of the SADC leaders cannot deny is that what is happening in Zimbabwe is anything but normal. Consider the following:

1. 1) Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF regime blatantly rigged last year’s elections. SADC and AU election observers condemned the process as flawed and illegal. SADC accepted the observers’ report and, per se, endorsed that Mnangagwa and his regime are illegitimate. For whatever reasons the regional body did not take any punitive action against the region other than that many of the leaders did not attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration as it the norm.

2. 2) Mnangagwa and his regime has stubbornly, publicly and repeatedly maintained that the elections was free, fair and credible and those saying otherwise “is their business.” The regime’s hunting dogs have publicly abused the SADC Election Observers particularly Dr Nevers Mumba from Zambia who was the chair. Mnangagwa himself is on record asking Russia’s President Putin for military assistance in the fight against Zambia. 

3. 3) Zanu PF regime has turned Zimbabwe into a North Korea Police State with opposition leader and human rights activist be arrested tortured and imprisoned in a knee-jerk reaction because the regime does not want the world reminded that it rigged the 2023 elections and is, per se, illegitimate. Peaceful public protests are allowed in every healthy and functioning democratic nation foreign visitors or not.

SADC leaders have failed to rein in the Zanu PF regime’s repeated violation of the country’s own laws and constitution and the regional body’s own principles and guidelines by rigging elections and denying its citizens their basic freedoms and rights. 

SA’s ANC government has propped up the Zanu PF regime for the last 20 years and President Ramaphosa was one of only three heads of state who attended Mnangagwa’s inauguration last year. ANC propped up Zanu PF for Ramaphosa & Co.’s own selfish political reasons. By supporting a fellow liberation war party’s continued rule they hoped that would help ANC’s stay in power. It did not work. ANC lost its absolute majority in the 29 May 2024 elections. 

ANC leaders owe the people of Zimbabwe an apology for their role in keeping Zanu PF in power against the democratic wish of the people. And this would be a good time for ANC leaders to correct their past wrongs.

It is normal to cancel or move the SADC summit, especially at such short notice - 3 days before the event. Still it is within the power of each member country to refuse to attend in protest against the madness we are witnessing in Zimbabwe. 

Doing nothing is NOT an option, it is tantamount to backing the regime’s madness. The last thing Zimbabweans want to hear is a feeble excuse from Pretoria for doing nothing, after all ANC has done to drag them deeper and deeper into this hell!

The real question that SADC leaders must answer is: How long is Zanu PF going to be allowed to ride roughshod over the people of Zimbabwe with impunity? And Is lawlessness the new norm in SADC or is it just Zanu PF that is above the law?

Chamisa & Co. have failed to implement even one token reform in 24 years because they have no clue what they are doing. W Mukori

NC: No! 2028 is not in the picture at all, because talking about 2028, presupposes that we had 2023.

But 2023 was a nullity, a void and, therefore, does not exist. There was nothing and nothing stands on nothing.

The fact that we have had challenges does not mean that it's impossible or it's not doable. We must continue fighting until we get it.

That's why it's a struggle. It is never a walk in the park. It's not instant coffee or picking pumpkins.

That is where the problem is with those who choose to look at 2028 as a yardstick. It's not. We must fix what is broken now.”

This is the reason why MDC/CCC have failed to implement even one token reform in 24 year, including the 5 in the GNU; here is some one who have no clue what they want and what is going on and yet would rattle on and on pretending they know what the want  and where they are going. Ask them later if they have accomplished what they said they will do and they will tell you another tale with no beginning or end!

Chamisa was warned of the sheer folly of participating in flawed elections countless times but refused to listen. Last year he lied about plugging all vote rigging loop holes to con the 2 million of his supporters to participate in the flawed elections giving Zanu PF legitimacy. And now he is the one saying “But 2023 was a nullity, a void and, therefore, does not exist. There was nothing and nothing stands on nothing.” Whatever that is supposed to mean!

He should be focusing on what he is going to do to make sure he does not con his brain dead followers into participating in yet another flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. He is just marking time talking about 2023 being a nothing whilst he yet to participate in the flawed 2028 just as he did whilst he waited to participate in 2023. 

The nation’s hope of ending this madness of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy is in reaching out to the Chamisa Chete Chete brigade and talk them out of participating. That is easier said than done because they are impermeable to reason and logic because of their personality cult mentality. 

Zimbabwe had the misfortune of having founding fathers with no vision and we are paying dearly for it! W Mukori

 Herbert Ushewokunze In The  Early 1980s, In His blBook, An Agenda for Zimbabwe, Ushewokunze (1984: 3–4) writes:

Today, we must guard against a trend where the few take over power from the white minority and exercise it for the black minority. And they cover our eyes so that we do not realise that they are buying land, houses and business premises for themselves and for their families. To do all this, they use tribalism and regionalism. These people will tell you that the struggle over our national resources is between the Shona and the Ndebele, between Zezuru and Karanga, or between white and black. That is a big lie. You will find the rich Ndebeles, Shonas, Karangas, Zezurus and whites drinking and eating together, and living in the same suburbs. And quite happily you will also find the poor living together without recourse to tribe, race, region or such other divisive tactics used by the rich to oppress the poor. Neo-colonialism is when the few rich blacks and whites team up to run the old colonial economic structure for their own benefit and for international capital, forgetting that our political independence was brought about through sacrifices of the peasants and workers who still remain poor under neo-colonialism.

Edison Zvobgo in 1979 in an interview with BBC-

“We do not want to create a socio-legal order in the country, in which people are petrified, in which people go to bed having barricaded their doors and their windows, because someone belonging to the special branch of the police will break into their houses. This is what we’ve been fighting against. Every one of us has been in jail 10 years, 14 years, I myself 9 years without trial.

Every one of us has lived, has had to live scared of the police. How on earth do we create a society which is exactly like that? We don’t want it, we’re fed up of it, and this is why we’re in this revolution for as long as is necessary, to abolish the system.”

Who can prove these men wrong today⁉️”

The tragedy for Zimbabwe is these leaders saw the neo-colonialism of the “black minority” lording of the black majority coming and yet were powerless to stop it. Both Herbert Ushewokunze and Edson Zvobgo accepted the E-Class Mercedes Benz ministerial limos and all the other trappings of high office and they quickly learned to enjoy the trappings of high office and keep their mouths shut. 

Robert Mugabe had one of the most useless cabinet in human history, they were so obliging they said nothing even during the Gukurahundi massacre of 1983 to 1987. 

“Mose muni vakadzi vaMugabe!” said Margaret Dongo in sheer frustration at how Zanu PF leaders, MPs and even ministers all grovelled and acquiesced to all Mugabe’s wishes regardless how capricious and treasonous. 

Mugabe and his cronies imposed this de facto one party state on the nation and after 44 years the system is well established and its roots run deep. There are many Zimbabweans today who are fighting to retain the Zanu PF dictatorship, some out of ignorance and others because they have benefited from it and/or are fearful of losing their loot or the dark past being uncovered if there is change.

It pays in the end to get the best in the beginning; in Zimbabwe we had the great misfortune of having corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs as the nation’s founding fathers and mothers. They created this failed state and unpicking the rot is a challenge!

Nelson Chamisa's epitaph: "Here lays a man who said a lot and most of it was lies and/or nonsense!" Wilbert Mukori

  "Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has urged Zimbabweans to seek solutions beyond the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to address the country's ongoing political and economic crisis," reported Bulawayo 24.

"As Zimbabwe prepares to host the 44th SADC summit in Harare, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will assume the ceremonial headship of the regional body, Chamisa expressed skepticism about SADC's role in resolving Zimbabwe's issues.

"Despite placing faith in SADC after last year's disputed elections, Chamisa noted that the bloc's observer mission, which found the polls did not meet regional standards, did not lead to significant intervention. He criticized SADC's inability to act decisively, stating that while SADC is a platform, it is not the ultimate solution to Zimbabwe's problems. Chamisa emphasized that the real answer lies in the hands of Zimbabweans themselves and in divine intervention.

"Chamisa, who left the CCC earlier this year, reiterated that free and fair elections are essential to resolving Zimbabwe's challenges. He highlighted the need for proper leadership that truly represents the people, arguing that the current government is inadequate.

"Chamisa vowed to continue fighting for proper processes and leadership in Zimbabwe, aiming to address the political dispute before the next scheduled elections in 2028."

When Chamisa dies his epitaph will read: “Here lays a man who said a lot most of it lies or made no sense!” 

He is the one who insisted in participating in flawed elections claiming he had plugged all vote rigging loop holes. His winning CCC members insisted on taking up their gravy train seats even after SADC and AU had dismissed the election process as flawed and illegal. All, out of greed. And yet, he has also complained incessantly that the elections were rig and SADC should have taken decisive action against Zanu PF. 

Chamisa is just a 40 plus year old man with the intellect of a 10 year old’s child. One idea he has yet to learn is that he cannot have his cake and eat it too. He has been warned of the folly of participating in flawed elections he has insisted on participating out of greed, have the few gravy train seats rewards, and complain he process is flawed so he can have the process nullified and get even more gravy train seats in the GNU. 

Zimbabweans should be focusing on ensuring reforms are implemented before 2028 elections or else no one should participate. Instead, we are wasting time in cat-and-mouse street protest vs a regime determined to stop all the protests. 

Selling Zimbabwe as a prosperous and democratic country to SADC leaders is proving to be mission impossible for Mnangagwa. W Mukori

 “The forthcoming 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government penciled for the 17th of August has needlessly generated so much brouhaha , propaganda and has heightened tensions between the regime, its functionaries and citizens," wrote Wonder Bvungura. 

"The regime in Harare has been making a song and dance about the summit , kicking up unnecessary dust and pulling out all stops to obviate the unforeseen.

 

Smith -era roads have been resurfaced, buildings facelifted trees painted and spruced up to hide the rot of 44 years thanks to Zanu PF's misrule. 

Buses from the ailing parastatal, Zupco, have been plastered with ED's unprepossessing visage wearing his signature reptilian smile heralding him as the in coming Sadc chairperson. 

So much airplay has been devoted to odious jingles adulating ED's manifestly failing leadership and congratulating him for, perish the thought, becoming the next Sadhaki chair. 

Forgotten Zanu pf praise singers , Mbare Chimurenga choir , now wrinkled, has been exhumed to reprise their role as cheerleaders and do another round of tasteless renditions to their yesteryear pro-Mugabe songs to praise ED.” 

There is only so much propaganda and whitewash can do to cover the rot and decay of 44 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption hence the reasons the designated drivers who are to ferry the visitors around have been instructed to use designated routes only! 

The regime has taken tyrannical measures to silence all those who were going to protest and remind SADC leaders that Zanu PF rigged the 2023 elections. Something the regime has vehemently denied but to no end because SADC leaders know the election were rigged from SADC Election Observer Mission’s report! 

Mnangagwa rigged 2023 elections and, per se, he is illegitimate. He is silencing all dissent for appearance's sake. W Mukori

 Tyrant and bullies have one thing in common they are obsessed about appearance of those qualities they lack. The bully will step on your toes, crash them, for the umpteenth time that day, and then apologise profusely. To the casual observer the bully is the consummate gentleman and the victim is the cry baby!

“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused foreign entities of orchestrating a campaign to discredit Zimbabwe in response to international condemnation of his administration's crackdown on pro-democracy activists. The criticism follows the arrest of over 100 activists, some of whom have been reportedly tortured while in custody,” reported Bulawayo 24.

“Addressing mourners at the burial of former liberation fighter Makhethi Ndebele, Mnangagwa claimed that there is a deliberate, foreign-funded effort to undermine Zimbabwe's progress. He denounced the allegations as baseless and asserted that such attempts to sow discord within the region and the continent will not succeed. Mnangagwa emphasized that Zimbabwe remains committed to its diplomatic principle of being "a friend to all and an enemy to none.”

The root cause of Zimbabwe’s seeming unending social unrest is the country’s economic meltdown which has left the country in economic ruins forcing millions to leave the country and 50% of the population living in abject poverty. Basic services such as health care and education have all but collapsed and the country’s infrastructure are in varying stages of rot and deny. 

44 years of Zanu PF gross mismanagement, rampant corrupt and tyrannical rule have crashed the nation’s hopes and dreams of ever living in peace and human dignity. 

Of course, the people are restless because human being are not sheep who will go quietly to the slaughter. No amount of tyrannical repression will stifle the cries of the long suffering masses. Crying for piece of bread to eat and, above all, crying for a meaningful say in the governance of the country.

Zimbabweans have been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and murderous Zanu PF regime for 44 years and counting because the regime rigs elections. Both SADC and AU election observers condemned 2023 Zimbabwe elections as flawed and illegal. 

“Conclusion 13.3

The SEOM (SADC Election Observer Mission) noted that, as detailed in sections 6 and 7 of this report, some aspects of the Harmonised Elections fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021),” stated the SEOM report. 

“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused foreign entities of orchestrating a campaign to discredit Zimbabwe!” Yeah right! Are SADC, the regional body, and AU, the continental body, foreign entities discrediting Zimbabwe too?

What is Mnangagwa wittering about, “Zimbabwe remains committed to its diplomatic principle of being "a friend to all and an enemy to none”? Zanu PF has ruled the country with an iron fist these last 44 years, the ordinary Zimbabwean has felt the heavy boot on their throat crashing them into the gutter.

“There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of these two young men (George Wickham and Mr Darcy). One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it” wrote Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice.

Mnangagwa rigged 2023 elections and, per se, is the illegitimate president of Zimbabwe. His over the top cracking down against all dissenting voices is to be expected; he does not want his illegitimacy to be exposed. He is obsessed about keeping up the outward appearance that Zimbabwe is a peaceful and prosperous nation and he is legitimate and very popular with all Zimbabweans.

ANC asking SADC Summit to be move from Harare is eating humble pie and a body blow to Zanu PF. W Mukori

 "The Democratic Alliance (DA), a South African opposition party, has urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to relocate its upcoming summit from Zimbabwe due to ongoing human rights abuses. The DA calls on South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to demand a venue change for the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit, scheduled for August 17, 2024, in Harare," reported New Zimbabwe.

"The DA cites recent state-sponsored crackdowns on pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe, including the detention of opposition politician Jameson Timba and 77 activists, and the arrest of four democracy activists at Robert Mugabe International Airport. The DA argues that the Zimbabwean government's actions violate SADC's founding principles of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. They stress that holding the summit in Harare would endorse Zimbabwe's alleged abuses and undermine SADC's principles.

"The DA is calling for a firm stance from South Africa and SADC to uphold democratic values and ensure the summit is held in a location that respects these principles."

Some of us said the failure by ANC to return its absolute majority in the 29 May 2024 SA elections was the game changer. The era of ANC leaders’  foolish arrogance of propping up the corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF regime in the name of keeping a fellow liberation war sister political party in power at all cost, was over.

At its November 2022 ANC Congress, the party had passed a resolution that it would not allow regime change in Zimbabwe. So was Zimbabwe a province of SA?

There is no doubt that it was ANC that used its influence to pressure SADC to do nothing even though SADC and AU election observers condemned Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections. 

Mayo oh mai! The 29 May 2024 SA elections has forced the mighty ANC to eat humble pie. Until then Zimbabwe was a province of SA and ANC would have been providing Zanu PF more whitewash to paint trees and the requisite propaganda to gloss over all Zanu PF’s wrong doing. Not any more!

I do not think Mnangagwa saw this one coming! If the SADC summit is moved from Harare, no doubt the regional body will stripe Mnangagwa of the chairmanship too. Even if the Summit goes ahead and Mnangagwa is allowed to assume the chairmanship, there is no denying the very fact that SADC was asked to have the meeting moved has more than forced Mnangagwa to eat humble pie; he is fatally wounded. 

Mnangagwa knows that rigging Zimbabwe’s 2028 elections is one thing getting away with it will be impossible even if Chamisa and company participate, as usual, to give him legitimacy.