via SADC says Zanu (PF) might rule for 100 years | The Zimbabwean by Adrian Mutigwe
Presenting the regional grouping’s final report in Harare, Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister, Bernard Membe, said President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF would rule for the next century if targeted sanctions are not removed.
“On the issue of sanctions I will speak from the bottom of my heart. The opposition, if they are in this conference room, they should begin working with Zanu (PF) if they are entertaining any thoughts of taking power in 2018.
“If they do not, this party (Zanu PF) will rule for another 100 years. I am giving them advice to take power. Sanctions will never work as a tool to win elections; they have never worked,” Membe said struggling to hold back laughter.
He also called for the closure of exiled radio station and in typical Zimbabwean government language called them “pirate radio stations”.
“In trying to gauge the fairness of this election, the Sadc Election Observer Mission (SEOM) focused its attention among others on the state media, pirate radio stations and the voters roll.
“SEOM noted the media (pirate and state) were highly polarised and for the most part biased along political party lines. In this regard SEOM received accusations and counter accusations from contesting parties and saw merit in them,” the SADC report said.
The SEOM head said SADC would order the closure of pirate stations operating within the region and send emissaries to foreign governments hosting “hostile” media broadcasting into Zimbabwe.
“To this end SEOM recommends that ZEC implements the letter and spirit of Chapter 12 part 5, section 248 of the constitution on media reform to be read together with the electoral act section 160 (E) to 160 (H) ‘public broadcasters shall afford all political parties and independent candidates contesting in an election such free access to their broadcasting service as may be prescribed,’ SEOM recommends that the pirate media should end their operations forthwith,” he said.
Membe said the elections, while being free, peaceful and generally credible, failed to pass as fair.
“Our observers on the ground reported complaints related to the delay in issuing the voters roll on time and even in those areas where the roll was issued a few days before, people had no access to it until voting day,” said Membe.
On the credibility of the elections, Sadc said while it also agreed with reservations from other stakeholders, “there were many elements that when put together elevated the election to a credible status.”
COMMENTS
For Sadc to concede that the Zimbabwe election was unfair but nevertheless accept the result is frankly bizarre. We do not see the Olympic body saying, oh this athlete is a drugs cheat but we’ll give him his gold medal because we think he may have won anyway! Shame on Sadc!
What a joke! SADC has set a terrible precedent that will bite peoples in the SADC community back sooner rather than later. How do you endorse an elction that failed to pass as fair?
People like Membe are the greatest of idiots that have ever existed under the sun. To Tanzania and its people, you are a bunch of illiterate fools who do not deserve a place under the sun. You are a backward thinking bunch of people who care for nothing but the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe. This is a direct response to your foreign affairs Minister and I challenge him to live to see his prophesy of doom.
SADC is talking nonsense, there is nowyas the Gukurahundis will rule for a 100 years, never.
Gukurahundis can only survive as long as the top Gukurahundi Mugabe is in charge, because he is the glue that keeps them together, without him things fall apart. They can only rule for a 100 years, if the top Gukurahundi is going to live more than a 100 years, which to my mind is possible.
Which party in Africa, or anywhere in the world has rulde for that long? Who ever thought the Soviet Union would one day disintegrate; Ian Smith and his Rhodesia Front and even the Boers and their Nationalist Party? The Chinese Communist party has managed to survive only because they reformed – the Communist party of today and the China of today is a far cry from the Communist party and China of chairman Mao.
If the Gukurahundis wish to rule that long, they will simply have to reform otherwise forget it. You cannot bank on one man for your survival, a Gukurahundi for that matter unless you think he is immortal!!
SADC is talking nonsense, there is nowyas the Gukurahundis will rule for a 100 years, never.
Gukurahundis can only survive as long as the top Gukurahundi Mugabe is in charge, because he is the glue that keeps them together, without him things fall apart. They can only rule for a 100 years, if the top Gukurahundi is going to live more than a 100 years, which to my mind is impossible.
Which party in Africa, or anywhere in the world has rulde for that long? Who ever thought the Soviet Union would one day disintegrate; Ian Smith and his Rhodesia Front and even the Boers and their Nationalist Party? The Chinese Communist party has managed to survive only because they reformed – the Communist party of today and the China of today is a far cry from the Communist party and China of chairman Mao.
If the Gukurahundis wish to rule that long, they will simply have to reform otherwise forget it. You cannot bank on one man for your survival, a Gukurahundi for that matter unless you think he is immortal!!
IAN D SMITH IS BACK!BLACKSMITH!
Maybe its true Africa is cursed! Kusvikira riinhi treating each other like this?
SADC = Stupid African Demagogues’ Club – hahahahaha
Membe is definately besides himself. How can he endorse an election that’s not fair? Is this the new norm in Africa and SADC in particular? Can’t he c this is dangerous and breeds instability in e region? Who can accuse Dhlakama for taking up arms in Moza cos FRELIMO will steal e next elections to remain in power. Is SADC saying only violence is the way to change gvts, e Madagascar style? Presidents in Madagascar came via street protests and violence, Rajoelina siezed power from Ravalomanana after deadly streets. Ravalomanana had also got into power after bloody protests agst Ratsiraka. Civil strife in DRC is direct result of sadc endorsing Kabila despite wide spread evidence of rigging. Its also disturbing Membe is speaking zanu language of sanctions and pirate stations but is silent on bias of e state media.
Will all the idiots who signed this SADC election report please raise your right hands? Thank you.
All you need to do in African elections is to avoid violence and ouright dishonesty then your elections will be acceptable. Just make sure that the rigging is not that obvious, you will get away with it.
Never mind the media; electoral law violations; the police; the army; the electoral commission and the state of the voters roll etc – they can do as they please!
Membe’s utterances must not be taken seriously. Sadc came with the objective of endorsing Mugabe and zanu in line with keeping the so called liberation movements in power just the old Chama Chama Punduzi! As long as they keep on cushioning each other like did our region wl not go anywhere.
Idiot!!!!