via ‘Zimbos lose confidence in elections’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 23, 2015 by Stephen Chadenga
Zimbabweans have lost confidence in elections as a vehicle for political change, a worrying trend given that the next polls are three years away, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) spokesperson Mfundo Mlilo has said.
The country is expected to hold fresh general elections in 2018 amid fears that most electoral reforms demanded by the opposition parties would not have been implemented.
The country’s post-independence elections since 1980 have been marred by allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence against opposition party members.
“Zimbabweans are tired of elections. They now don’t see them as a vehicle of change and the consequence is serious voter apathy which is a big blow to democracy,” Mlilo said while addressing guests at a CZC-organised media and civil society engagement meeting in Gweru last Thursday.
“This is a worrying phenomenon because 2018 is just around the corner. Voters have lost confidence in the manner in which elections are handled.”
Mlilo said his organisation would soon intensify political advocacy campaigns until 2018 to mobilise the electorate to participate in national elections despite the uneven playing ground.
He also accused the security sector and the judiciary of being partisan.
“If you compare with Zambia, you find that institutions like the judiciary are more democratic and handle electoral disputes impartially. The military there (Zambia) are not actively involved in the running of elections like here,” Mlilo said.
“Army officials here even make announcements that they will not salute certain individuals even if they won elections. This is tantamount to a pre-emptive coup.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Elections Resource Centre director Tawanda Chimhini said it was high time the country embraced e-voting as was the case in neighbouring states such as Namibia.
“Civil society in Zambia is allowed to engage and freely observe elections. This allows for independent verification of elections results and more transparency,” Chimhini said.
The meeting, organised by CZC, was meant to afford local civil society groups a chance to compare notes on their findings from the elections held in Namibia and Zambia recently.
COMMENTS
Out of this fighting can come normality and a true democratic, people driven party which stands for the ethos and tenets of the
liberation struggle. The Zanuidiots of the Mugabe leadership has been centred on self enrichment, holding on power, intimidation, murder and general fear of everyone
including the very politicians around him.
We might miss the point if we do not rally against undemocratic principles that played out at Con-
grace which are a mirror image of what happens at national elections.
We may not like this group of Mutasa et al but the case they are bringing out is very important for our democracy. It is for this reason I view it as a turning point in Zimbabwe’s history where either we become sleeping dogs while thieves ransack the country or we stand up unitedly to challenge Zanuidiots’ illegitimacy which has ruined our country and economy.
These guys were in the
establishment but what they are standing for is valid and their knowledge and inside information
of Zanuidiots corruption, rigging etc is invaluable, hence the need to
support their current stance. This is a feat no current opposition can mount. This can be Zimbabwe’s chance to, for once since the liberation war, conduct truly democratic elections which will reflect the will of the electorate. Mutasa et al are launching a case against undemocratic principles in Zanuidiots and this is a test case for our democracy gone wong. Support for this case is not support for the individuals…but for the principle of one man one vote which guarantees that the people rule via the secret ballot.
So it took Mutasa and co to leave ZanuPF and expose ZanuPF as a rotten party. We knew they were rotten long ago just that people were in their comfort before they realised what hit them. ZanuPF had to domesticate the people first then dominate them then empower ZanuPF. The old African saying ‘hakuna matata’ rings true here in Zimbabwe. In our case it simply brought us misery.
democracy cost is in blood .thats what the people have to do to get freedom from zanu oppression.
Murimi has full confidence in the electoral system,which has served us effectively for the past 35 years,except for a small glitch in 2008.
Anyone who is grieved,has a right of recourse through the courts.
Nuff said.
Zimbabwean electoral democracy has been so abused by mr mugabe that only United Nations run and supervised elections can possibly restore confidence.
mr mugabe will claim that this is sovereignty, but of course it is the exact opposite. the nation is now more that ever before at the mercy of outside elements to secure human dignity and freedom of choice.
@Murimi..”Murimi has full confidence in the electoral system,which has served
us effectively for the past 35 years,except for a small glitch in 2008”. Even your other Zanuidiots know the electoral system is seriously flawed and is only good for rigging purposes, so you Murimi are one of those unpatriotic self serving villains masquareding as revolutionaries.