http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Local, News,
Politics
A high turnout of voters during last week’s Zanu PF primary
elections has
generated immense debate, with analysts warning that the party
may use the
figures to justify a possible manipulation of the July 31
polls.
REPORT BY PATRICE MAKOVA
But others said the high turnout
in some constitutencies would not
necessarily work to the advantage of the
former ruling party.
They said while the party often drew crowds at its
events and maximised on
the voter registration exercises, there was no
correlation between the high
turnout and actual votes come Election
Day.
All card carrying Zanu PF members and those who purport to belong to
the
party were eligible to vote.
This saw a massive turnout in some
constituencies, with Defence minister,
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia
Mnangagwa amassing 17 000 votes in
Kwekwe-Chirumanzu.
She initially
wanted to contest in Mazowe, but was allegedly blocked by the
Mashonaland
Central leadership due to Zanu PF factional fights.
In Uzumba, Simbaneuta
Mudarikwa won 9 413 votes and in Mudzi Newton Kachepa
got 10 165, while
Dexter Nduna garnered 7 028 in Chegutu West.
This was in sharp contrast
to the MDC-T primary elections and confirmation
exercise, where some
candidates were endorsed by less than 200 people, as
only office holders
were eligible to vote.
Political analyst, Ernest Mudzengi said the high
turnout was largely to do
with Zanu PF’s agenda setting as part of efforts
to influence results.
“The high turnout was probably to prepare for a
certain result, which may
not necessarily reflect what the people will have
said through the ballot
box,” he said.
Another political analyst,
Gift Mambipiri agreed that the results of some
primaries in Zanu PF exposed
other agendas beyond the obvious.
“That is why you get someone claiming
to have been supported by thousands of
people. But, if you follow the
allegations of ballot boxes being stuffed and
‘human trafficking’ across
constituencies, then you will know the figures
are not credible and
legitimate,” Mambipiri said.He said Zanu PF was trying
to announce to the
world that they had strong grassroots support.
“In so doing they are
sending the other parties panicking and also so that
when they stuff ballot
boxes with imaginary votes, especially from the rural
areas where observers
may not be welcome, they will have some
justification,” said the political
analyst.
MDCs scoff at zanu pf primaries voter turnout
The MDC
parties said the figures were inflated and served as a template for
rigging
the elections.
Nhlanhla Dube, the MDC spokesperson said; “They are not a
reflection of the
true Zanu PF support base. It is a huge public relations
attempt, aimed at
mass deception that Zanu PF still has the power to command
huge numbers.
“It is an attempt to prepare Zimbabweans psychologically
ahead of the
elections.”
Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC T party
spokesperson added: “The Zanu PF primary
election figures are inflated to
prepare for rigging in the elections.
“The figures don’t represent the
party’s support base and are only aimed at
creating a template for
rigging.”
‘Zanu PF structures are in disarray ’
Gift Mambipiri
said another reason why Zanu PF opted for everyone to vote
was because the
party could not use its usual party structures, due to deep
seated
factionalism.
“They have parallel structures in almost every constituency
and ward. They
do not know who is who and the party chairman [Simon Khaya
Moyo] has tried
and failed to set clear structures,” said
Mambipiri.
He said on the other hand, MDC-T primaries were purely for
giving mandate to
new contestants in the harmonised elections; hence
well-defined electoral
colleges were used.
But University of Zimbabwe
(UZ) political science lecturer, Shakespear
Hamauswa did not read much in
the high turnout.
He said people who voted were not necessarily Zanu PF
supporters and some
MDC, those who belong to other parties also
participated.
“Some participated because of fear, since during the
primaries it was easier
to identify those who did not take part. So people
could have participated
for security reasons,” said Hamauswa.
He said the
figures registered during the primaries need to be compared with
the
previous voting patterns.
Hamauswa said a close look would reveal that
the figures were not very
different from the 2008 harmonised
elections.
He said in the areas with touted high turnouts, like Marondera
Central,
MDC-T won by more than 8 000 votes, yet the Zanu PF candidate got
just above
3 000.
But the UZ lecturer conceded that Zanu PF used the
primaries to test its
preparedness, thus they allowed every card carrying
member to vote.
“If the high turnout in some parts is to reflect what is
going to come then
in Harare, Matabeleland and in those areas with low
turnout there is nothing
for Zanu PF,” he said.
Despite the high
turnout, the Zanu PF primaries were marred by chaos, with
voting in some
constituencies delayed by up to two days, due to in-fights
and poor
logistical arrangements.
Some candidates were controversially
disqualified and others re-admitted
through the backdoor, further dividing
the party ahead of the July 31
election.
There were also allegations
of vote rigging and missing ballot papers.
A recent report by Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) warned that the
country was again heading for
disputed polls, as evidence on the ground
already showed possible
manipulation of the electoral process.
The report: “Countering Electoral
Manipulation: Strengthening Zimbabwe’s
Chain of Democracy Choice,” expresses
misgivings on the integrity,
transparency and the manner in which the
electoral process is being handled
by the authorities.
It says on
Election Day, there is a possibility of denying observers access
to polling
stations, hot spots, pressurising voters through threats, abuse
of mobile
ballots, multiple and ghost voters and displacement of known and
suspected
opposition supporters.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Local, News,
Politics
SERVING members of the police force continue to openly support
President
Robert Mugabe ahead of elections next month in direct violation of
the
Police Act which forbids them from dabbling in politics.
REPORT
BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE & PHYLLIS MBANJE
Some of the officers took part
in Zanu PF primaries last week and are set to
represent the former ruling
party in forthcoming elections slated for July
31.
The Police Act
forbids members of the force to actively participate in
politics.
A
police officer is deemed to be actively participating in politics if he
joins or associates himself with an organisation or movement of a political
character; or canvasses any person in support of, or otherwise actively
assists, an organisation or movement of a political character.
A
police officer also is deemed as having participated in politics if he or
she: “…displays or wears rosettes, favours, clothing, symbols, posters,
placards or like articles having a political significance; or attends a
political meeting or assembly when wearing the uniform of the police force
or any part of such uniform likely to identify him as a Regular Force
member.”
Among those that participated in last week’s Zanu PF
primaries are Senior
Assistant Commissioner Ronald Muderedzwa and Assistant
Commissioner Oliver
Mandipaka who won tickets to represent Buhera Central
and West respectively.
Two weeks ago, police recruits openly declared
their allegiance to Mugabe
and Zanu PF at a pass-out parade in Harare. The
officers wished the
89-year-old leader, who has been ruling the country for
over three decades,
a “resounding success” in the forthcoming
elections.
Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has also
declared his
allegiance to Mugabe and declared that he would not salute
anyone without
liberation war credentials, in reference to Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai
who did not fight the war.
Other securocrats have
also vowed that they will not allow Tsvangirai to
rule this country, even if
he wins elections.
However, if a police officer is suspected to have
links with other political
parties, especially the MDC led by Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, he or
she faces disciplinary action. Some have been
ejected from the force.
A police officer in Chiredzi was recently hauled
before a disciplinary
hearing for driving an MDC-T legislator’s
car.
Constable Brighton Mangoto appeared before police internal
disciplinary
board after he drove a car belonging to former MP for Chiredzi
Central,
Moses Mare into the police camp last month.
Mangoto said he
wanted to buy the car and was doing a test drive before he
could
pay.
The matter is still pending.
Last month, three officers were
detained for attending an MDC-T rally. An
internal police court sentenced
Courage Manyengavana, Marshall Zindoga and
Lovemore Mupedzapasi to 14 days
detention for acting in a “manner which
brought disrespect to the
police”.
In 2011, a female police officer, Faith Mereki was fired for
allegedly
having close links to an MDC-T legislator.
SECURITY SECTOR
REFORMS HAVE BEEN RESISTED
Efforts by Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC led by
Welshman Ncube to effect
security sector reforms have been fiercely resisted
by President Robert
Mugabe and Zanu PF.
Even Sadc at the summit in
Mozambique earlier this month ordered that
security forces publicly state or
restate their commitment to the rule of
law.
But Mugabe derided the
calls for security sector reforms in Namibia
recently.
Security
forces ‘biased’ towards Zanu PF
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New
York-based human rights body, has said
chances of a free and fair election
in Zimbabwe were remote, as long as the
existing weaknesses in the security
sector reforms remain.
It accused the security forces of being “biased”
towards Mugabe and called
for stringent reforms to “rein in police, the
military and internal security
agents”.
Political analyst,
Shakespeare Hamauswa said it was sad that the police had
a tendency of
flouting its own laws.
“Some of these people have various interests that
they acquired through the
party, like mining ventures and other business
prospects so they would not
want to lose these. They would rather serve the
party that is safeguarding
their interests,” said Hamauswa. “Another issue
is that these guys have an
umbilical-cord type of relationship, whereby
because they served together in
the army they feel obliged to keep
supporting their comrades-in-arms. They
fought together side by side and
they are forever attached to each other.”
Hamauswa urged the MDC formations
to come up with a clear transitional
strategy.
“People are generally
afraid of a change of government because it leaves
them feeling exposed and
so the various opposition parties need to devise
credible transitional
plans,” he said.
Another political analyst, Effie Dube said it was
prudent that the police
and the army respect the Constitution.
“No
one is allowed to violate the Constitution, the police and the army
should
not be partisan,” said Dube. “This will prevent them from dispensing
their
duties efficiently. They cannot participate in political matters, it
is
simply unacceptable.”
Dube said the role of the law officers was to
provide and ensure safety to
the citizens and not to take sides with any
political party.
“Their duty is to ensure that everyone who wants to
assemble with their
preferred party is protected to do so freely and even
[at] voting time
everyone should feel safe enough to vote.”
He also
said the police and the army should fulfil their professional
obligations to
the state.
“It is extremely important that they should fully observe
their duties.”
Police spokesperson Charity Charamba demanded questions in
writing.
Two weeks ago, the police had however, promised to issue a
statement on the
matter of serving officers contesting elections under the
Zanu PF ticket.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Local, News, Politics
SECURITY
chiefs have moved in to stop disgruntled Zanu PF officials from
making
another protest vote dubbed “bhora musango”, in an effort to prop up
President Robert Mugabe’s political fortunes ahead of the July 31
elections.
REPORT BY PATRICE MAKOVA
Mugabe (89), faces a stiff
challenge from MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, MDC president
Welshman Ncube and Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa.
Two other lesser known
candidates Kisinot Mukwazhi of ZPD and Joseph Bushu
of FCZ are also seeking
to wrestle the presidency from him.
Sources told The Standard, the
security chiefs who masterminded the June
2008 run-off campaign, were not
taking any chances this time around and
wanted to ensure all Zanu PF
supporters rallied behind Mugabe.
In 2008, Mugabe was shocked to lose in
constituencies where Zanu PF MPs won
and to come second to Tsvangirai in the
presidential election.
But sources said the initiative by the security
chiefs was likely to face
problems as a different protest vote “ponjesa
bhora” (deflate the ball),
was being mulled by rebels who wanted to cause
voter apathy in Zanu PF
strongholds.
Many aspiring MPs and their
multitude of supporters are bitter following the
chaos which characterised
last week’s primary elections.
The primaries saw some popular candidates
being disqualified and unpopular
ones being admitted through the backdoor,
amid reports of rampant vote
rigging, missing ballot papers and violence in
some areas.
Sources said the partisan security apparatus would now be
used to enforce a
code of conduct which all candidates signed before the
primaries. Under the
code of conduct the contestants agreed to support
eventual winners to avert
dividing the vote.
“They [security agents]
are now monitoring all the candidates who contested
to ensure that they do
not make another “bhora musango” which could again
prove costly for Mugabe,”
said a Politburo member.
Those caught on the wrong side would either face
disciplinary action or the
threat of arrest, the Zanu PF official
said.
“They have dossiers of virtually every senior party official
containing
potentially damaging information. Some officials have been
involved in
questionable deals and others have committed certain crimes.
Threats to use
such information will force some disgruntled individuals to
toe the line,”
said the party official.
However, the source said some
disgruntled officials were vowing that they
would not be forced to actively
campaign for Mugabe and other unpopular
candidates. They were also said to
be sponsoring some of the Zanu PF
officials who registered to contest as
independents, after they were blocked
by the party.
“Many officials
will take a back seat during the election campaigns, as they
are not happy
with what happened during the primary elections. Voter apathy
is certain in
some Zanu PF strongholds, the effect being what is now being
called ponjesa
bhora,” said the official.
Security officers were also heavily involved
in the just-ended primary
elections with the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO), reportedly
responsible for vetting candidates. Uniformed
police officers were also
captured by the media helping Zanu PF officials
conduct the primaries.
The Zanu PF official said, while a few Zanu PF
candidates were the target of
arrest before the primaries to stop them from
contesting, security chiefs
flatly refused to apprehend them as they didn’t
want to be used by the
different factional leaders to silence their
opponents.
The only candidate arrested before the primaries was musician
and
businessman, Energy Mutodi on long standing accusations of defrauding
home
seekers. He was eventually blocked from contesting incumbent Beater
Nyamupinga in the Goromonzi West constituency.
Zanu PF spokesperson,
Rugare Gumbo confirmed that efforts would be made to
ensure that party
members adhere to the code of conduct. He said most
aspects of the code
would come into effect tomorrow, when the party
officially hit the ground
campaigning.
“The code of conduct specifically says that such behaviour
[bhora musango]
will see the involved members being disciplined by the party
or any other
institution in place,” Gumbo said.
He however could not
say what role the security chiefs would play on behalf
of Zanu PF in the
forthcoming elections.
SECURITY CHIEFS BLOCKED POLITBURO MEETING
A
senior government official close to the party confirmed the involvement of
securocrats in Zanu PF politics.
Only recently, the government
official said, they helped block an attempt by
one of the factions in Zanu
PF to call for a politburo meeting when Mugabe
was away in Japan for a
summit.
The official said security chiefs with the support of one of the
security
ministers who also sits on the Joint Operations Command (JOC)
phoned
individual politburo members warning them against attending such a
meeting
in the absence of Mugabe.
The new constitution bars the
security sector from being partisan and
dabbling in politics, but evidence
on the ground does not show that they
have stopped this. Security chiefs
have over the years openly supported
Mugabe and Zanu PF. They have also
vowed not to salute Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai even if he wins the
Presidential election.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Local, News,
Politics
THE Constitutional Court will hear a consolidated application
for an
extension of the election date on Thursday, the ninth case the bench
will
adjudicate on since its formation last month.
REPORT BY NDAMU
SANDU
The court’s speed in handling cases has raised hopes that the
wheels of
justice could finally move faster in a country, where it can take
years for
cases to be decided.
Zimbabwe’s judiciary system has been
accused of taking longer to dispense
rulings and in the process
short-changing applicants, since justice delayed
is considered justice
denied. Many of the cases involved human rights
matters.
Since it
began work following the signing into law of the new Constitution
on May 22,
over 60 applications have been filed with the court. It has
reserved
judgements in two cases, ruled in favour of Mutumwa Mawere in his
citizenship fight with the Registrar-General and has also dismissed two
cases, raising hopes that the wheel of justice are moving in the fast
lane.
Analysts however, caution that this does not reflect that the lower
courts
will move with speed, replicating the Constitutional
Court.
Constitutional expert Greg Linnington said the cases have been
heard
earlier, as the applications were urgent and related to elections
which
President Robert Mugabe proclaimed should be held on July
31.
The congested programmes have also meant that the judges, who also
sit on
the Supreme Court bench, are kept on their toes raising fears this
may have
an effect on their work in the other court.
According to
paragraph 18 the Sixth Schedule to the new Constitution, for
the next seven
years the judges of the Supreme Court will double as judges
of the
Constitutional Court. Only after that will the entirely separate
Constitutional Court envisaged by the new Constitution come into
existence.
As such, constitutional cases will be heard by Supreme Court
judges with
nine judges instead of five, as was in the old
Constitution.
The bench will hear not only new cases but all pending
constitutional cases
lodged with the Supreme Court before May 22, in which
that court had not yet
heard argument from the parties.
The bench has
nine judges — Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku and his deputy
Luke Malaba,
Judge President George Chiweshe, Justice Antoinette Guvava,
Justice
Paddington Garwe, Justice Anne-Marie Gowora, Justice Vernanda
Ziyambi,
Justice Bharat Patel and Justice Ben Hlatshwayo.
Analysts say the
Constitutional Court will be stretched if the recent
applications are
anything to go by.
On Thursday, the judges will hear a consolidated
application by Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Justice and Legal Affairs
minister Patrick
Chinamasa, Nixon Nyikadzino and Mariah Phiri for an
extension of the
election date from July 31.
“With the broadness of
the Bill of Rights, they are going to be stretched.
There will be a number
of cases coming up as people who were oppressed will
use the opportunity to
assert their rights,” said a Harare-based lawyer who
requested
anonymity.
“We have a Constitutional Court for one month and there are
more than 30
cases and this means we are going to see serious activities in
court.”
The lawyer said the cases were a test on the bench’s credibility
and “have
to show whether or not they will come out with their fingers
unscathed”.
He said the bench has to unshackle itself from the perception
that its
members, by virtue of doubling as Supreme Court judges, had in the
past
responded to the needs of one political party.
“It is their
responsibility to make sure that they are seen as an
independent and an
impartial bench, whose duty is to interpret the law,” the
lawyer
said.
Linnington said he preferred the South African model which has
separate
judges for the Constitutional and Supreme courts to the Zimbabwean
scenario.
“It’s a pity we don’t have that in Zimbabwe, that would have
made the case
pretty good,” Linnington said.
But University of
Zimbabwe law lecturer Lovemore Madhuku said Zimbabwe was a
small country and
did not have a busy court calendar.
He said since the court was supposed
to run for seven years, it would be
possible to see at the end of its tenure
whether it was necessary to have
separate judges, adding that “it costs
money to have separate judges.”
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Local, News,
Politics
YOUTH Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment minister
Saviour
Kasukuwere said he is being vilified by a shadowy character on
Facebook due
to his drive to economically empower Zimbabweans.
REPORT
BY OUR STAFF
A shadowy character, Baba Jukwa, has been on a warpath on
the social
networking site, ripping through Zanu PF politicians, Kasukuwere
included.
Kasukuwere is leading the indigenisation crusade which analysts
say scares
away foreign investors needed to revive the economy and is a
trump card for
Zanu PF ahead of the harmonised elections.
Speaking at
the careers in politics panel discussion organised the Public
Affairs
section of the US Embassy on Tuesday, Kasukuwere said despite the
attacks on
his personality he would continue driving the process.
“I find myself in
this limelight because of the portfolio I am in charge of.
It naturally
would attract much more than what I am going through. It is
about the
liberation of our people. It’s about the economic independence of
our
country. For as long as you believe in that cause, I am prepared to die
for
it,” Kasukuwere said.
Kasukuwere said he receives at least 50 telephone
calls a day in which he is
either insulted, or his mother is at the
recieving end.
He said he was unperturbed by the insults, adding that the
main concern is
how to empower Zimbabweans.
Kasukuwere said the
insults were also taking a toll on his children.
“They go to school, and
somebody is saying, [Baba Jukwa says your father
this and that]—look at the
emotional stress. It’s a price we have to pay for
our country,” he
said.
“I go to my mum and say, ‘Mama, don’t worry; they have called me
everything.’
It’s painful . . . Whatever they, say, it strengthens me. It
gives me the
resolve.”
Kasukuwere has been in the eye of a storm
after his attempts to indigenise
the banking sector were resisted by Finance
minister Tendai Biti and central
bank governor Gideon Gono.
The two
told Kasukuwere that the sector was already indigenised and those
who wanted
to enter the banking sector should apply for banking licences.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Local,
News, Politics
MUTARE — MDC-T National spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora
says his party will
launch its manifesto on July 6 in Harare after having
successfully fielded
candidates in all constituencies across the
country.
Report by Our Correspondent
Mwonzora said the document
will touch on robust and inclusive economy, rural
transformation,
infrastructure, health services and defending people’s
rights.
“We
are going to the elections, promising our people jobs. Zimbabwe is
sitting
on 85% unemployment,” said Mwonzora.
“Our school leavers from colleges,
high schools and tertiary education are
not employed. We know some
Zimbabweans have been conditioned to think like
entrepreneurs in townships
and we have a special package for these people,”
Turning to the issue of
rebel candidates who filed their papers at the
nomination court as
independents, the MDC-T spokesperson said the party was
bigger than an
individual, and people should learn to accept defeat in
primary
elections.
He said the forthcoming harmonised elections were crucial and
needed a unity
of purpose.
He said what was important at the moment
was to focus on winning an
election.
“What is critical at the moment
is to get Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
to the State House, once we win
the elections there is room for everyone. It’s
not everything to be an MP,
you can be a senator, councillor, Ambassador,
director or permanent
secretary.
There are so many good things one can be,” said
Mwonzora.
Some of the candidates who filed their papers as independent
candidates
include former Daily News Editor-In-Chief Geoffrey Nyarota who
lost to MDC
Manicaland spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya in Makoni South.
Acting Mutare
mayor George Jerrison filed his papers in the local authority
elections
after he lost to Tsitsi Foya during the primaries.
In the
Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency, MDC-T was forced to file two
candidates
Giles Mutsekwa and human rights defender Arnold Tsunga after the
primary
ended in a dispute.
“What has happened is that both candidates have filed
their nominations
under the party’s name and we have allowed them to do so
because under the
Electoral Law once a candidate is registered under a
party, the political
party can withdraw the name of the candidate within a
specific period of
time. As you aware the Chikanga-Dangamvura elections were
aborted for
variety of reasons, more than twice now.
“We are going to
do a special selection of a candidate and after that we
will withdraw the
other candidate. I am sure the leadership is working on
that and President
Tsvangirai in particular is seized with the matter.
“We are going to sit
down as leadership and deal with the matter and one of
them is going to step
down. They signed an affidavit before the chief
election officer that they
will abide with the party decision to withdraw,
should the need
arise.
“Arnold Tsunga and Giles Mutsekwa are both reasonable people. They
are both
valuable people in the MDC and the leadership will see where to
place them
in the future government,” said Mwonzora.
He said despite
this incident, MDC was happy that it had fielded candidates
in every
constituency across the country.
“We are happy that we filed a candidate
in every constituency. I am
particularly happy myself that in my
constituency that the battle lines have
been drawn between MDC-T and Zanu
(PF) and no other party. It’s between me
and Herbert Nyanhongo, and let me
just tell the Zimbabweans that I am going
to retire this man nicely,” he
said.
Mwonzora said the MDC hoped that the elections will be free and
fair and
will not be replica of a 2008 violent election.
“As MDC we
continue to call for an even playing field. We want an election
that is not
a repeat of 2008, an election that guarantees the secrecy of the
voters and
the vote. Election’s should be funny to the people of Zimbabwe
not an
election that brings fear, timidity and sorrow,” he said.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in
Local, News, Politics
President Robert Mugabe (Zanu PF), MDC-T leader
Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC
President Welshman Ncube, Zapu boss Dumiso Dabengwa
and Kisinoti Mukwazhi
will battle it out for the keys to State House after
successfully lodging
their papers with the Nomination Court on
Friday.
REPORT BY NDAMU SANDU
There had been plans for a pact to
unseat Mugabe, which appeared to have
gained momentum when Mavambo Kusile
Dawn president Simba Makoni pulled out
of the race last week, in support of
a grand coalition.
The opposition parties had united after President
Mugabe unilaterally passed
amendments to the Electoral Act and subsequently
decreed July 31 as the
election date.
The two MDC formations further
united at the Sadc summit in Mozambique that
eventually asked Zimbabwe to
approach the courts for an extension of the
election date by two weeks. The
Constitutional Court will hear the
application for an extension on
Thursday.
In a tweet on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, MDC secretary
general
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga all but poured cold water on a grand
coalition with MDC-T yesterday.
“Can someone tell me why people are
so obsessed by a group of people they
claim are so irrelevant to the
political landscape, if it is a fact that
this party [MDC]is so small and
insignificant, then just wait and play the
vuvuzelas on the first. You can’t
on one hand abuse us, while asking us to
join hands with you, it has to be
one or the other,” she tweeted.
Tsvangirai spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka
told The Standard yesterday that
fielding separate candidates is part of
democracy, though it would have been
better for like -minded parties to come
together.
Tamborinyoka dismissed the assertion that Zanu PF had been
given an
electoral advantage, saying there is a national mood for change and
people
“can start writing the epitaph for Zanu PF”.
Analysts had
predicted an electoral pact between the two MDC formations
saying they had
learnt from the mistakes of 2008.
Tsvangirai got 44,87% of the votes,
which were inadequate to secure him the
presidential post. Mugabe got 43,24%
while Makoni managed 8,31%.
Had the two formations entered into a
coalition, Tsvangirai would have
smiled all the way to State House.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Community
News
POLITICIANS must stop ordering the closure of schools and forcing
pupils to
attend political rallies ahead of this year’s harmonised
elections.
REPORT BY MUSA DUBE
The Minister of Education, Sport,
Arts and Culture David Coltart last week
said abuse of teachers and pupils
by politicians ahead of major elections
was rampant, particularly in the
country’s rural areas.
They are usually threatened with violence or death
if they fail to attend
the political campaigns.
Coltart said the move
was tantamount to child abuse.
“Schools should be politically neutral
places and children should not be
drawn into partisan political activities,”
he said.
The Education minister said politicians must stop disturbing
school children
from carrying out their academic work.
“I would
strongly condemn the action where schools are taken to political
gatherings,” said Coltart. “Parties should leave them [pupils] to
learn.”
During the violent 2008 elections, Zanu PF allegedly forced the
closure of
schools to make sure that pupils and their teachers attend the
party’s
meetings. This was against the will of the pupils or their
parents.
Some schools, especially in rural areas, were turned into Zanu
PF “bases”,
where all those who did not support the party or President
Robert Mugabe
were tortured.
In 2008, some teachers fled their
schools and sought refuge in urban areas
fearing for their
lives.
MDC-T claims that at least 200 of its supporters were killed by
Zanu PF
youth militia and secret security agents in the past elections as
they tried
to secure a victory for Mugabe.
Coltart also condemned
situations where political campaigns are conducted
under the guise of sports
tournaments.
“Schools should be used for educational purposes only and
not partisan
political activities,” he said.
The country is set to
hold harmonised elections next month and political
parties have already
started campaigning.
Mugabe had unilaterally proclaimed July 31 this year
as the date for the
elections but was advised by Sadc to apply at the
Constitutional Court
(ConCourt) so that the polls can be extended by at
least two weeks.
Last week, the ConCourt postponed the hearing of the
case indefinitely.
Major political parties in the country — including
MDC-T and MDC — had also
ganged-up against the proclaimed date and called on
the elections not to be
held until some electoral reforms were in
effect.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Community News
The
withdrawal by Zanu PF Mutare North candidate and central committee
member,
Esau Mupfumi, from the party’s primary electoral race held last
Tuesday, in
protest of what he claimed was inapt behaviour by his rivals has
sparked
outrage in the constituency.
By Brian Mangwende recently in
Manicaland
In a snap survey conducted by The Standard in 10 of the 17
district wards,
it was clear many were disgruntled for they said Mupfumi was
quick to give
in and had jumped ship to concentrate on his business empire,
at the expense
of the welfare of the constituency.
In Odzi, Lazarus
Samudzimu said: “It is quite sad that Mupfumi has decided
to abandon us at a
time we thought we could work together and win these
elections. Actually,
this man has betrayed us. Is this politics, that when
we need you most you
run away from us?”
In Nhamburiko, Biggie Chidemu said tribalism could
have led Mupfumi to
withdraw, while Never Bvududu said the youths belong to
Mupfumi’s rivals
were either tearing his posters or replacing them with
their preferred
candidates calling him a trouble causer.
Said
Chidemu: “You see, people were saying that Mupfumi must go back to
Chivhu
where he was born and stop meddling in politics in this province.
They
called him all sorts of names and I think for a central committee
member to
be humilitated like that is just not right, so I don’t blame him
for
withdrawing. How then, even, if he contested and won was he going to
work
with such people. It was going to be a recipe for disaster.”
On the eve
of the polls, Mupfumi, who was to face eight other candidates,
wrote a
letter to the provincial chairman Ambassador John Bvundura,
withdrawing his
candidature, citing unruly behaviour by his nemesis and
their supporters. He
accused them of destroying his campaign posters.
Wrote the Mutare
business tycoon: “I have realised that our constituency,
Mutare North, has
become highly fragmented due to the fact that so many
cadres have chosen to
participate in the primary elections.
“My moving in as a candidate after
the announcement of the date for the
primaries elections appears to have
caused panic to the other contestants,
leading to a lot of unbecoming
behaviour taking place.”
He went on: “As central committee member and a
father figure in the District
of Mutare, it is my responsibility to unite
the party, hence I have seen it
fit to withdraw from the primary
elections…and allow the other candidates to
participate, lest the name of
the party is put into disrepute.”
Initially, nine candidates had
submitted their CVs but after former
provincial chairman Mike Madiro was
suspended from the party on stock theft
charges, charges the courts
acquitted him, the number went down to eight.
Although Mupfumi, a former
policeman, said he would continue to participate
in party activities and
support the winning candidate alongside President
Robert Mugabe in the
forthcoming harmonised polls, his supporters were not
convinced he was
genuine, but instead abandoned them.
Speaking to The Standard on Tuesday,
Mupfumi down played the reasons for his
withdrawal preferring to say: “I
will work with the winner and I have no
hard feelings. When one door closes
another opens.”
Eventually, Batsirayi Pemhenayi pulled through to win the
primaries, whose
turnout was huge.
The others were Godfrey Mundagowa,
Sam Gamunorwa, Admire Mahachi, Pedigree
Matara, Robert Gumbo, and July
Manyeu.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Community
News
CHIPINGE — AT least five people were burnt to death, while property
worth
millions of dollars was lost as a result of uncontrolled veld fires in
Manicaland province during the 2012 fire season.
REPORT BY OUR
CORRESPONDENT
Addressing a fire awareness campaign meeting organised by
the Environmental
Management Agency (EMA) in Chipinge last week, Economic
Planning and
Investment Promotion deputy minister, Samuel Undenge said 16
people also
lost their lives to veld fires nationwide, describing the figure
as
“shocking and unacceptable”.
He said the majority of the victims
were the vulnerable age groups of
between two and five years, as well as
those above 70 years.
“Veld fires continue to pose a threat to human life
and property,” said
Undenge. “Manicaland lost five lives and this is a
pathetic loss because
these are people whom we are supposed to look after
and give due care and
concern.”
The minister said property and
infrastructure worth US$479 723 went up in
smoke as a result of veld fires
in the province.
This included livestock, plantations, electricity poles,
equipment and farm
produce.
“The upward trend in severity of veld
fires on our environment is a cause
for concern,” he said. “As a ministry,
we firmly believe positive correction
measures should be undertaken to
ensure sustainable environmental management
and protection.”
The
minister said there was need for a deliberate move from all stakeholders
to
join hands with EMA in raising awareness about the dangers of veld fires,
as
well as protecting the environment.
According to EMA there has been a
marked increase in area burnt by veld
fires in the country in the past few
years.
In 2012 alone 1 320 325 hectares were lost as compared to 713 770
hectares
in 2011. In an endeavour to raise awareness, the environmental
agency
conducted 1 065 fire awareness campaigns.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Community
News
BY PHYLLIS MABANJE
GOVERNMENT will soon introduce a less painful
and blood-free circumcision
method as it steps up efforts to circumcise
three million males by 2015.
The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in
conjunction with the Zimbabwe
Community Health Intervention Research Project
is already conducting
pre-trials of the Prepex method in some parts of the
country.
National coordinator for male circumcision in the Health
ministry,
Sinokuthemba Xaba said the response to the Prepex trials had been
overwhelming.
“So far, we have only carried out studies to ascertain
the safety,
feasibility and acceptability of the Prepex device, as a
device-based method
of carrying out adult male circumcision in Zimbabwe. The
studies so far have
been successful.”
Prepex is a non-surgical
circumcision device which uses rubber bands. It was
developed by Circ
MedTech, an Israeli company founded in 2009.
A plastic ring is inserted
inside the foreskin and a rubber ring is placed
on the outer foreskin, on
top of the inner ring.
The outer ring clamps on the inner ring stopping
the flow of blood to that
part of the foreskin that is to be removed. Within
a week the foreskin dies
from a lack of oxygen and either falls off on its
own or is easily cut off;
no anesthesia or sutures are required.
What
makes it a better alternative than its surgical counterpart is that it
can
be performed in a non-sterile setting.
This makes it more ideal for most
impoverished African countries with
limited facilities and personnel to
perform the procedure.
Xaba said plans were at an advanced stage to roll
out the programme expected
to start next year.
“We are currently
making efforts and mobilising resources for ensuring the
roll-out of the
Prepex device in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“This entails putting in place a
comprehensive logistical strategy of
procuring the devices and also ensuring
that we can distribute them to all
the centres that will be providing male
circumcision services.”
The resources would also be used in the training
of doctors and nurses on
use of the Prepex device for medical male
circumcision.
“Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is ensuring that it
takes all the
necessary steps to ensure that the device will be rolled out
comprehensively, so that every Zimbabwean who would want to be circumcised
using the Prepex can have the service available at a health facility close
to them.”
Xaba said they will engage different communication
strategies, including
mass media and community-based communication
strategies to ensure that
people have adequate and factual information on
Prepex.
“This information will not only be targeted to men, but also to
women, so
that they have adequate information on the benefits of male
circumcision and
how it can benefit them as women as well,” said
Xaba.
Commenting on whether Prepex was better than the surgical method,
Xaba said
there were no benefits of one method versus the
other.
“However, the Prepex device brings in an opportunity for people to
have
options that they can choose from.
“Furthermore, there are still
some people, due to certain conditions, who
won’t be able to be circumcised
using the Prepex and hence, the surgical
procedure will be there and they
can be circumcised by it. In this regard,
we are happy that there are
options for the provision of male circumcision
services.”
He said
there was also a chance of Prepex devices being used by primary care
nurses
in rural health centres. This will enable men in remote areas where
there
are no doctors and nurses to access male circumcision
services.
Researchers have also described the Prepex method as safe,
acceptable to
patients and staff, and easier to deploy at a large scale in
multiple
locations and settings.
To date, clinical trials have been
held in several African countries
including South Africa, Uganda, Kenya,
Rwanda and now Zimbabwe.
But it has been established that not all males
are suitable candidates, as
some have tight foreskins (phimosis), which
makes it difficult to insert the
inner plastic ring. Researchers said such
men were not suitable for the
procedure and should use the surgical
method.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Business
THE World
Bank (WB) has crafted a three-year strategy for Zimbabwe,
focussing on
fostering private sector-led growth, creation of an enabling
environment and
reducing societal vulnerabilities as it readies for eventual
re-engagement
with the country.
REPORT BY NDAMU SANDU
The move comes at a time
Harare has been building bridges with international
financial institutions,
to help finance the growth of the economy on the
increase since the use of
multiple currencies in 2009.
However, international financial
institutions have not opened the taps to
the much needed lines of credit,
due to the country’s US$10,7 billion
external debt profile.
The WB’s
Interim Strategy Note (ISN) for Zimbabwe that was availed last
week, comes
barely a week after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed
a Staff
Monitored Programme (SMP) on the country running up to December.
An SMP
is an informal agreement between country authorities and Fund staff
to
monitor the implementation of the authorities’ economic programme.
The
ISN for Zimbabwe was done by the International Development Association
(IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA) — all arms of the World Bank Group — and begins this
year up to 2015.
This is the third roadmap for Zimbabwe after one in
2005 and the other which
ran from FY 2008-2009.
It is aligned to the
World Bank’s Africa region strategy, premised on
competitiveness,
employment, vulnerability and resilience with a foundation
of governance and
public sector capacity.
Its first priority is fostering private
sector-led growth, addressing
competitiveness and employment by working to
improve Zimbabwe’s “business
environment and the agriculture sector, easing
infrastructure constraints,
and improving overall growth
conditions”.
While capacity in the private sector has suffered from a
decade of poor
investment, the ISN contends that it could, with a better
environment be a
driver of growth. It said Zimbabwe has a competitive base
for private sector
development, largely “on account of the substantial
investments made in
human capital and infrastructure” after
Independence.
The ISN aims to address governance and public sector
capacity by
strengthening core public systems and focussing on the demand
side of good
governance.
This means that the WB would help government
on ensuring that electronic
Public Financial Management Systems (PFMS)
improves fiduciary control and
informs expenditure and helps government to
make public procurement systems
more efficient.
It would also help in
human resources and wage bill management, saying
critical capital and
recurrent expenditures are crowded out by large
government employment costs
that accounts for nearly two thirds of public
spending.
“Following
the payroll and skills audit, the World Bank AAA [Analytical and
Advisory
Activities] would inform government on the development of a human
resource
management information system integrated with the PFMS and payroll
for the
health sector,” the WB said.
The ISN proposes a broad based pro-poor
growth strategy with support for
social protection and mechanisms, “to
provide a safety net for the poor and
vulnerable and improving the
availability and utilisation of basic services
for the poor”.
Areas
that the WB would support under its pro-poor growth strategy are
health,
education, water systems and sanitation improvement, food security
and
environmental vulnerabilities among others.
The ISN would build on the
bank’s current analytical work, “its credibility
in economic dialogue e with
government, and its recognised power to convene
development partners to
support Zimbabwe’s recovery”.
Under the “status quo” scenario, the
majority of the proposed ISN programme
would be financed from the Analytical
Multi Donor Trust Fund and other trust
funds.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Opinion
The landmark ruling this
week by the Constitutional Court restoring dual
citizenship following an
application by Mutumwa Mawere represents one of the
several issues to write
home about. The court ruled that dual citizenship is
permissible under the
new Constitution.
Report by Dr Clifford Chitupa
That the landmark
ruling will have far reaching implications in Zimbabwe’s
transformation
would be an understatement. While for some people it will
take time to sink,
Zimbabweans in the diaspora lift their glasses bottoms up
in celebration of
a major blow against the Mugabe dictatorship.
Some people who find it
difficult to understand why Mugabe earned the titles
“dictator” or “tyrant”,
will be reminded by the restoration of dual
citizenship about the pain and
suffering that the former liberator and
freedom fighter inflicted on
families by depriving them of their birthright
for political expediency. The
other excellent news to write home about is
the restoration of citizenship
for the so-called stateless Zimbabweans who
were made “aliens” by the
Citizenship Act of 2001.
Yet more good news to write home about is the
grand opposition coalition of
Zimbabwe, which is causing Zanu PF
propagandists endless nightmares. There
are no illusions about election
coalitions because they are fraught with
power struggles let alone damaging
propaganda. Those in the MDC-T, MDC-N and
Zapu who are reportedly expressing
reservations about the grand coalition
may be unaware of the immense
opportunities and challenges of making
sacrifices in the short-term to end
Zimbabwe’s crisis.
Inevitably, there will be horse trading in any
coalition. It would be a
reversal of one form of patronage with another, but
it would be
self-deceptive to suggest that governments the world over would
operate
without those whom they trust.If Mugabe were to be swept from power
in the
next elections without the option of another GNU, the grand
coalition’s
partners could be appointed as ambassadors abroad to Zimbabwe’s
over two
dozen embassies abroad, as long as it would be on merit, not
tribalism,
racism or gender.
Some could also be appointed as
permanent secretaries or as heads of
departments and commissions including
defence, internal security, state
security, the media and so on.
Only
through a grand opposition coalition to fight elections against Mugabe’s
Zanu pf can there be hope of media reforms to replace director generals of
parastatals including ZBC, New Ziana, The Herald and others that have been
dominated by Zanu PF since Independence.
As a result, Zanu-pf ‘s
propagandists are lambasting Simba Makoni for
showing practical support for
the grand opposition coalition by withdrawing
his presidential candidature
to garner more support for the new movement.
Indications are that the
succession debate has been revived in the wake of
Robert Mugabe’s upteenth
visit to Singapore in three years for what is
officially an eye
check.
With an 89-year-old presidential candidate, there are fears of
another
“bhora musango” a euphemism for protest vote by Zanu PF supporters
voting
for the opposition in harmonised elections following chaotic
primaries.
Amid fights, demonstrations, accusations and counter
accusations even among
spouses and former marital partners, Zanu PF
primaries tend to resemble more
of a circus than democracy for the
anachronistic Soviet-styled party.
An observable electoral malpractice
that the public is being gradually made
to accept ahead of national
elections is, the politicisation of ZRP officers
seen carrying Zanu PF
primary elections materials.
Of course, MDC-T still has to resolve
outstanding challenges to some of its
primary election results.
There
seems to be no convincing evidence why Grace Kwinjeh should not stand
as a
candidate.
After a long time, we had something to write home about.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Opinion
Over
the past three years Zimbabwe has been experiencing a transition.
Although
transitions are difficult, they are not impossible. Any government
that
wants to change the course of history needs to make difficult political
choices and work hard at implementing them.
Report by leon
hartwell
Several analysts have written about the Government of National
Unity (GNU)’s
shortcomings and disappointments, especially with regards to
outstanding
issues in the Global Political Agreement
(GPA).
Zimbabwean politicians also sometimes talk about the GNU as if it
is a
“marriage of convenience”. However, we should not fail to recognise
that
Zimbabweans have shaped important values and institutions that can be
built
upon.
The economy has stabilised partly as a result of
dollarisation, but also
because of the formation of the GNU. It signalled to
businesses and
investors that there is the potential for a more stable
economic
environment. The GNU has exposed the main political parties to
several
intense processes of negotiation. Importantly, the GNU gave birth to
several
new mechanisms and institutions, including the Joint Monitoring and
Implementation Committee (Jomic) and the new Constitution. Working on
developing these institutions helped former enemies to become one another’s
opposition; one hopes that they will continue to respect and treat one
another that way as we move towards elections.
The
constitution-making process, especially over the past two years, was
characterised by several moments that are worth mentioning. The Second All
Stakeholders’ Conference (ASC) in 2012 was a merry event.
At the
opening, President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai danced
to
“Tuku”. Minister Eric Matinenga stated that he felt “a sense of political
tolerance” and argued that the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac)
draft was “a product of a collective effort”.
During their addresses
at the ASC, Mugabe and Tsvangirai both called for
“peace”. Near the end of
his speech, Mugabe stated, “violence is primitive…
Let us shame our
detractors who think Zimbabweans cannot resolve their
differences without
resorting to violence.”
When the Constitution was introduced in
Parliament, Copac co-chairs Douglas
Mwonzora and Paul Mangwana cracked jokes
across the floor with one another.
Copac forced political parties, as well
as Zimbabweans, into an intense
conversation about the country’s past,
present and future. One hopes this
has not been in vain and that many of
these negotiation processes have
fostered a culture of compromise and
dialogue.
Following the referendum, Zimbabweans now have new lenses to
judge one
another’s conduct. The new Constitution redefined the relationship
between
the state and the individual. Minister Welshman Ncube remarked, “We
finally
have a Constitution that we can truly call our own. . . As we move
forward
to rebuild our Zimbabwe, let the challenge be of ensuring that our
political
and governance practices measure up to the letter and spirit of
this supreme
law.”
In the Preamble of the new Constitution, it is
written, “We the people of
Zimbabwe are united in our diversity by our
common desire for freedom,
justice and equality, and our heroic resistance
to colonialism, racism and
all forms of domination and
oppression.”
These values were created, not by one man or one party, but
by many
Zimbabweans for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.
Chapter four
of the new Constitution consists of the Declaration of Rights.
Many of these
rights are well crafted but they will not bloom by themselves.
Constitutionalism goes beyond having a new legal framework; it is about its
implementation.
As Zimbabwe moves forward politically, so have
relations with the Western
world improved since 2008. In fact, many of the
multi-party processes,
including the constitution-making process and Jomic,
have been supported by
the Western world. In recognition of the GNU’s
commitments and
implementation of the GPA, the European Union removed and
suspended a host
of measures against a number of top Zimbabwean officials
and the regional
bloc said it would work with any government formed as a
result of a free and
fair election. Today Zimbabwe has an opportune moment
to capitalise on the
momentum of the work that it has done since 2009.
Zimbabweans simply want
liberty, peace, and economic prosperity. The power
is within this government
and the next to deliver this to the people by
focusing on implementation of
the new Constitution, as well as by hosting
free, fair and credible
elections.
l Hartwell is a senior policy
adviser at the Netherlands Embassy. He writes
in his personal capacity.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Editorial,
Opinion
As Zimbabwe hurtles towards elections next month it might be time
to look
back and reflect on what caused the country’s political crisis which
is now
more than a decade old. It would seem the wheels of the democratic
train
that gained momentum towards the end of the 1990s are off the rails
and the
political fight is now only for power rather than the ideals we
yearned for
15 years ago.
Report by Nevanji Madanhire
By the
mid-1990s it had become clear that the majority of Zimbabweans were
disillusioned that after more than a decade of self-rule, there had not been
the promised fruits of independence that everybody hoped for at the dawn of
our nationhood.
The country had effectively become a one-party state
and the ruling Zanu PF
had drifted further and further from the people. This
was a natural result
of the unbridled power it enjoyed. Corruption had crept
in and the ruling
elite had become so entrenched it became insensitive to
the wishes of the
people.
Social services had declined almost
irreversibly; our once world-renowned
education and health systems had been
desecrated as the money in the
national kitty was diverted to grandiose
projects, whose sole purpose was to
massage the egos of the people in
power.
One such project was the adventure in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo,
which plunged the country into an economic crisis it will never
rise from.
The disgruntlement of the masses peaked and resulted in the
food riots of
1998. Before that the veterans of the liberation war had
threatened to
revolt against their comrades in the corridors of power who
enjoyed lavish
lifestyles while they languished in poverty. In panic the
ruling elite
awarded them bonuses that left the country on its
knees.
Education was the hardest hit, as there was no money to adequately
equip
institutions and keep good teachers in schools and
colleges.
Workers’ wages became meaningless as inflation began to spiral
out of
control. To stem the disgruntlement the government became more and
more
repressive. Civil liberties were curtailed and peaceful demonstrations
were
ruthlessly suppressed.
It was not surprising that it was the
workers and the students who summoned
the guts to lead a new movement aimed
at restoring democracy. In 1999 when
the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) was launched it was clear what the
people wanted.
The people
wanted the country’s institutions to be restored to their former
selves.
They wanted a police force that served the majority rather than the
elite.
They wanted a political leadership that had the interests of the
majority a
heart.
They craved an education system that worked, where students got a
quality
education and got jobs at the end of it all. The people wanted
health
institutions they could visit and get adequate medical attention.
They
wanted an economy in which their money made sense.
All these
desires could only be met if the money government collected from
them as
taxes was used for the purpose it was collected; they desired good
governance in an atmosphere where their civil liberties were
guaranteed.
In short, the people wanted change; they wanted Zanu PF to
go!
They wanted a completely new order to be established. But that was not
going
to be easy as the past 13 years were to show. Zanu PF had entrenched
itself
so well its edifice was not going to collapse without a big fight.
What is
clear now more than anything else is that the monolithic party is
around for
a while yet. All state institutions including the police and the
army serve
only the purpose of protecting its hold on power. All state
departments have
been militarised for the same purpose.
Elections are
now only a month away and the majority are where they were at
the turn of
the millennium. The land reform programme clearly empowered some
people, but
they are just a drop in the ocean in comparison with the
majority who remain
in abject poverty and the millions who have run away
from their country to
seek economic refuge elsewhere.
Zanu PF refused to renew itself in the
face of the democratic movement. It
is patently clear if it wins the
elections it will continue on the same path
it has trodden in the past three
decades.
Evidence of this is abundant in the way it has refused to
implement reforms
that would open up democratic space.
The democratic
movement itself seems to have faltered. This may be because
its leadership
has tasted power and forgotten what it set out to do, or it
has been
out-witted by its formidable foe that has kept it divided.
The divisions
within the democratic movement would be difficult to
understand if one did
not look deep into the power dynamics of the last five
years. The success of
the MDC under Morgan Tsvangirai in elections since
2000 has shown that Zanu
PF can be defeated in an election. In the coming
elections MDC-T is going
for broke because this is its last chance. If it
loses this time around it
sinks into oblivion, so it has to wager everything
to win. But this has also
meant that it employs some of the crudest tactics
that Zanu PF has used to
remain afloat including violence against the media.
Sensing possible
victory, not everyone in the party is amenable to the unity
of democratic
forces to fight against Zanu PF.
The smaller MDC led by Welshman Ncube
also tasted power during the life of
the government of national unity
because it became the power broker in
parliament and in government. It was
real power it exercised and it would
like to continue to enjoy the same. Its
reluctance to join a grand coalition
is based on the gamble that the 8% of
votes it donated to Simba Makoni in
2008 rightly belongs to it and it will
get it this time around, ensuring it
continues to occupy the same space as
in the past five years.
What does all this mean? It means we are likely
going to have another
government of national unity which will continue to
keep us in the hole we
dug ourselves into.
It will serve the
leadership across the political divide well, as it will
continue to enjoy
the gravy train. But the majority will remain where they
have been for the
past 20 years.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw
June 30, 2013 in Editorial, Opinion
It is
now almost certain harmonised elections will be held on July 31. Zanu
PF has
defied regional bloc Southern African Development Community (Sadc)’s
call to
have a two-week extension to August 14.
Standard Editorial
There
is something sinister in all this, as it points to a stratagem meant
to give
an unfair advantage to the former ruling party.
Whatever trick Zanu PF
has up its sleeve must be exposed before we go into
another disputed
election. It gives hope that the African Union has already
begun to send
observers to monitor the period running up to the poll.
Hopefully Sadc will
follow suit soon and other organisations from across the
globe will begin to
make their presence felt on the electoral scene.
There are several areas
to watch carefully.
Observers should pay special attention to voter
registration and the
subsequent voters’ roll. Indeed the call for the
deferment of the election
was based on the argument that the voter
registration period was inadequate.
The real fear was that hundreds of
thousands of people, especially
first-time voters and those formerly called
aliens, would not be able to
register. This would work in favour of Zanu PF
which has alienated itself
from these groups.
Observers should also
monitor carefully the use of the public media.
Zanu PF has refused media
reform because it wishes to use the public media
exclusively in the election
campaign. They should also record all incidents
of hate speech in the media
and report it to their principals so that it is
stopped.
The
involvement of security forces in the elections should also be monitored
and
barred wherever it is evident. Security chiefs have unconstitutionally
aligned themselves to Zanu PF and have campaigned openly for it, which is
illegal. In recent weeks we have seen securocrats’ wives hitting the
campaign trail. This too should be highlighted to the observers and
stopped.
The presence of soldiers in rural constituencies is highly
intimidating and
needs to be put to the attention of the
observers.
Soldiers should remain in the barracks during this
period.
Political violence should also be closely watched.
