via SA ‘unlikely’ to act on Zim election rigging | SW Radio Africa by Alex Bell November 5, 2013
Pressing domestic issues and a looming election in South Africa mean the country is unlikely to take any decisive action on election rigging in Zimbabwe, despite a dossier of ‘evidence’ being circulated by the MDC-T.
The dossier is understood to contain more details of how ZANU PF, with the backing of the military and groups like Nikuv, manipulated the July elections to ensure an outright victory. This evidence backs up accounts from across the country of serious irregularities that marred the poll.
South Africa, along with the rest of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), has already endorsed ZANU PF’s and Robert Mugabe’s victory. Regardless of this, the MDC-T has approached Jacob Zuma, as the former regional mediator in Zimbabwe, with the new evidence. Other African leaders are understood to have been given the document too.
Trevor Maisiri, a Senior Analyst on Southern Africa at the International Crisis Group, told SW Radio Africa that the Zuma administration is “unlikely to take any decisive action,” because of its own domestic challenges.
“The Zimbabwe election set a trend for regional elections, in that the SADC position was taken on the result (of the poll) and all countries concurred. President Zuma himself goes into an election in 2014, so would he want to risk the wrath of SADC if anything happens during those elections (in South Africa)?” Maisiri questioned.
He added: “So what will happen is the MDC may go to South Africa, but I believe South Africa is so consumed with its own domestic affairs and there won’t be any courage for South Africa to take decisive action on Zimbabwe before their own elections.”
Maisiri criticised South Africa for playing a “convenience game,” by only defending the rule of law and democracy when it is ‘convenient’. He said this was why the Zuma administration was seeking to overturn key legal rulings that would see it facing off against ZANU PF.
Most recently, the South African National Prosecuting Authority and the police are seeking to overturn a landmark legal ruling, compelling them to investigate crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe. The ruling was made by a South African high court last year and is based on evidence of politically motivated torture and abuse committed against MDC supporters and members in 2007.
But the South African authorities are seeking to overturn this order, despite being signatories to the Rome Statute, which formed the International Criminal Court (ICC). That Statute means South Africa is obligated to investigate crimes against humanity, even if those crimes are not committed within its borders.
The attempts to overturn this ruling meanwhile come as the South African presidency is still fighting to keep a report on Zimbabwe’s 2002 elections secret, despite a court order to release the document. The report, which a High Court judge has revealed contains enough evidence to question the legality of that poll, has been kept under wraps for over ten years.
“South Africa doesn’t want to be put in the forefront of SADC as the country that is exposing Mugabe and ZANU PF and pushing ZANU PF to the corner. Which is why the Zuma administration is making all efforts to try to quash any legal battles which seem to force the South African government to expose ZANU PF,” Maisiri said.
He added: “If it is convenient for South Africa to push human rights issues, it does so, but if it is convenient to ignore or quash those issues, it will.”
COMMENTS
It’s pathetic that mdc tsvangirai etc still worship sadcc author Zuma mbeki obosango zim courts un. Latter controlled by chinas vetoes. Mobilize the downtrodden starving masses instead of dreaming naive academics.
When ZANU (PF) was fighting Rhodesians it constantly sought the support of it’s neighbours like Botswana Zambia and Mozambique. MDC is right to seek help from SA. In all disputes an impartial mediator should be identified. When your house burns you turn to your immediate neighbours for help.
This is a load of Bull-Mesh! Morgan withdrew his challenge, why should MDC present its case to SA? Is this ZANU PF keeping us engrossed in denial day in day out? Please MDC grow up, wake up to reality.
Of course SA will not act. They have already completed their well stage managed act of deception in fooling the west into thinking that they were being impartial.
As for Morgan Tsvangirai, SA’s Lindiwe Zulu provided an excellent smoke screen in her role and then she disappeared into the mist at the appointed time. She duped Morgan Tsvangirai so well that she will probably be awarded the Baobab Award at the next medal ceremony.
What is important now is what Zimbabweans do about this. The struggle for democracy has been very successfully pushed back a decade.
Can Zimbabwe tolerate another 5 years of zanu vampire tyranny or will the people take action to prevent more zanu theft and thuggery?
If Morgan Tsvangirai remains in situ, zanu will be jumping for joy.
South Africa, along with the rest of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), has already endorsed ZANU PF’s and Robert Mugabe’s victory.
So why waste time. Day dreaming.
People seem to think that democracy and honesty is the SADC’s and AU’s guidelines.They are all in collaboration with each other like the mafia to make things look above board to the western world.The “potential” chaos in zanupf and zim if the mdc won the elections would have idicated exactly what the reality on the ground is in africa.Imagine 2 democracy western aligned sadc countries in the region(bots and zim).The mafia will have to work so much harder to keep up appearances.The zim electons were rigged and there are no doubts about it.
I suppose these people would like to see a war between South Africa and Zimbabwe. South Africa as a member of SADC said there was no rigging, and so did the UN. AU and the rest of the proggressive world. Only imperialists who lost a lot in the recent ZANU win want the electoral process villified simply because their stooges in the MDC lost. They are yarning to see dead bodies in a war between Zimbabwe and South Africa and they long to watch dead bloodied bodies on TV-shame. That will never happen. I wish they could call upon their own chldren to fight and die if they want to see blood, these blood suckers. They want to see African blood spilt so that they can continue to steal African wealth. How and why they should call for South Africa to try Zimbabwe and adjudge Zimbabwe is mind boggling. These people should call for war between Europeans not Africans. We Africans are now aware of these blood suckers’ tactics and will never fall for it, not anymore.
I can only say this, “Surely it is time for You to act oh Lord for they have regarded Your laws as void.”
Nothing is going to come out of SA, SADC and AU. Only Zimbabweans can pull themselves out of this quagmire of debauchery. ZANU PF is here to stay and the economy stagnation is the reality. Zimbabwe iyi haina window. It’s doomed, doomed and doomed. ZANU Pf is angry, very angry. Angry at Zimbabweans dumping them now after they fought for independence. Now you dumped them on all elections since 1990, now you are going to suffer. These people are unforgiving and unforgetful. Their attitude is now you go to MDC EU UK USA for your survival. If there is anyone out there still expecting ZANU Pf to perform you are day dreaming and you actually need some therapy. Nothing is going to come out of zanu pf other than pain and suffering. Makadya izvozvo.
@Limelight
Zimbabweans can never pull themeselves out of the mess because of Shona tribalism in Zim politics. This is the major disease in Zimbabwe’s political culture!
lizi you must be in the zanupf elite and very well off.If you look at africa only the government and big business are doing well and nobody else. One question !how would zanupf ,anc etc support their extreme elite lavish lifestyles if they were to lose an election and have to remove their grubby hands from the cookie jar.Intelligent answer please.
Mark, you simply want your hands in the so called cookie jar. Your white hand should be in a European cookie jar and not in an African one. Why dont you and your lot go home??????
Lizi, your dodge is unsuccessful… instead of providing more vitriol, respond with intelligent answer. Why are all the bigwigs so rich, when all others struggle to find food?
So the allegations have shifted from rigging to manipulation. Do these words mean the same. Vote winning is all about asking the voters to think your way, to accept that what you promise will make his live better. There is always a form of manipulation, even on rally addresses. Manipulation is eliminated where every participant stays home until the vote day and the voter makes a very independent decision and choice. If I convince my worker to register on my other property and vote in Harare, is that manipulation or rigging. At the end of the day its a game of numbers. One who manages to have the majority on his side wins.
ZANUPF’s idea of “manipulation” is frogmarching villagers to the polls and forcing them to claim illiteracy? That is coercion and Coercion is rigging. If that is your idea of democracy, why have a vote at all. Save money and just appoint a dictator for life.
A benevolent monarchy is better than a faux democracy.
Please leave South Africa alone, they have their own internal challenges to deal with, deal with yours that mostly self created!!
South africa conspired with SADC to dupe zimbabweans into a fake GNU with an outcome of a zanu pf victory at all cost. Gwede Montashe said the anc was working to ensure a zanu victory. The South African government is fighting tooth and nail to have the 2002 election report remain sealed. WHY? The same South African government is also fighting against the trial of torture perpatrators in South Africa. The South African government has no conscience. Zimbabweans who can vote in the South African general elections next year should vote against the ANC
@ Fungai. If you are correct in thinking that it’s only whites complaining, zims should be at the very least feeding itself!!!
and not consistantly BEGGING from western (white) countries for food and aid.I am gob smacked that zimbabweans will vote themselves into poverty and even worse believing zanupf every election.Do you really believe that.?Maybe why whites seem to be the only ones complaining is that they know africa (if run correctly)would be competing with the usa europe and china on a one to one basis.Not 1 african country is run correctly as the government has their hands in the cookie instead of developing their country and people.You are kept uneducated for a reason so you cannot think for yourself.
What can the White South Africa Judge say about Zimbabwe..they want see Zimbabweans people fighting each other without any solutions…we are tired of MDC-T CRY BABY..
Mark, Mark, are you speaking for the rest of Africa!!! I am sure you are one of the former white farm owners. Who said we are begging from the West. The West actually want our mineral resources. We are simply saying let the West remove sanctions and their influence on our ability to access funding from IMF and World Bank and we are ok. So you think with my MBA I was forced to vote otherwise. Ask yourself why the majority voted that way not underrate their thinking.
Explain exactly how those travel restrictions have so badly impacted the economy and caused so many to need to be fed by the West? Will allowing Grace to go to London to shop for her shoes resolve the economic problems? You grasp for straws that are smoke.
MBA? That brings a chuckle.
Shebah, Shebah ,Shebah I am lost for words an MBA???? sanctions???former white farm owner???.If there were sanctions which there are not why not let china step in.They make beautiful chana and gwm cars and trucks and not wabenzi’s.
MBA??? things must be really bad in zimbabwe. Was this at a zanupf college???
At least March has admitted he is not commenting from Zimbabwe, now I understand your frustrations. As for my MBA it contributed to the winning strategy for ZPF. Over 60% majority – what a strategy. I am surprised you are not aware that Chinese investment is every where here, thats why we are now even buying shoes for as little as $5. Fallenz – did I talk about travel bans?? I talked about restrictions on IMF and World Bank funds, remember we are a voting member. As was said before, dealing with ignorant people is very difficult.
Before we talk about IMF and World Bank, let’s discover where all those missing billions in funds went. You loan me money, I hide it away, and then refuse to repay… you gonna loan me more? If so, let’s talk about you loaning me a few hundred thousand so I can open a tuck shoppe or a groundnut sandwich shoppe, or sell prop wash at the air park… I’ll even make you a partner, but I keep the books and determine your share. Obviously, that brand of micro/macroeconomics business plan should sound inviting to you. I await your funds.
By the way Mark – my MBA is from a UK University, a white man’s creation, they taught us PECTLIST analysis, with political being the very fisrt aspect to consider for survival. Your white farmers failed to address that aspect and they failed heavily.
Shebah, I feel very sorry for you.
Fungai beware of the tokalosh.