"The current voters' roll is not fit for a burial society election. It is a crime scene. There must be an urgent national audit of this roll signed off by all political parties,” said Tendai Biti.
"Zimbabwe cannot be led into an occult travesty masquerading as an election. 23 August must be a real election.”
This is not the first time that Tendai Biti has highlighted the sheer futility of participating in Zimbabwe’s flawed and illegal elections. He first said this in 2015.
“Look, you can't keep on participating in flawed electoral processes that serve to give big benefits to dictators such as Robert Mugabe. Mugabe has perfected the art of winning elections. So it will be very foolish for the opposition to continue legitimizing these sham elections which don't deliver. This country will go through a serious economic crisis in 2020 caused by Zanu PF. And yet, this is the only country where a government doesn't perform, it is encouraged by a super majority in parliament,” said Tendai Biti in a 2015 interview with Isaac Mugabi.
“So you can't continue subjecting Zimbabweans to processes where their hopes just get crushed.”
His words fell on deaf ears then as all the opposition parties ignored his advice and participated in flawed 2018 elections out of greed. It must be said, that he it is either he did not hear his own voice nor thought process because he too participated in the 2018 election. Or, which the most likely scenario, greed do the better of him too.
Still, one only hopes that his colleagues in the opposition camp will finally sit up and pay attention; it really is insane to keep participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuate the failed state and the human suffering it has brought.
Let us hope Tendai Biti himself will have the common sense and moral conviction to stand up and be counted and withdraw from this rat race even if everyone else does not.
One can only imagine the nauseating disgust and trepidation I felt when I came across Hopewell Chin’ono’s twitter. Here is the man who not just a journalist but an “Award winning International Journalist | Film Maker | 2 Time African Journalist of The Year | Africa Leadership Fellow I Nieman Fellow | hopewell2@post.harvard.edu". A mouthful! And yet cannot not trust to perform the simple task of informing, entertaining and educate the public.
“Some have suggested boycotting the (2023) election, that is a big NO, and I will explain why,” posted Chin’ono on his twitter paper.
“1. When you are in an authoritarian State like Zimbabwe, you have to fight for every space available for contest.
If you don’t, the regime will use political opportunists like Mwonzora, and Zanu PF and Mnangagwa won’t be bothered about the world view or reaction.
2. If Nelson Chamisa decided to boycott elections today, many of his parliamentary candidates will rebel against such a decision because for many of them being an MP is a job.
Many will argue that they have already spent money campaigning.
And for some, they have dreamt of being an MP for years such that they have even sacrificed their values and moral compass simply to get into parliament.
So it won’t work. A rebel from your candidates terribly weakens you.
Lastly, having MPs in parliament is a meal ticket for the political parties and their leaders.
So there won’t even be any talk of a boycott from any opposition party which has the prospect of winning seats.”
Of course, this is just nonsense!
Elections must be free, fair and credible and if they are not then one has to grade the process carefully and act accordingly. There are rules to guide the grading just as there are road rules, for example. You should not stop the car where there is a continuous yellow line, the danger and seriousness of the offence goes up a notch if there are two continuous yellow lines, a continuous red line and peaks at double continuous red lines.
The penalty for ignoring the a continuous double red line warning in UK can be as much as £130 even if stopping so did not result in any accident. If it did, then the sky is the limit!
The idea that one must participating in election no matter how unfree, unfair and discreditable the process happened to be is absurd and irrational. If Zanu PF knows that the opposition will participate in an election no matter how flawed the process got and its political legitimacy is guaranteed. Why would the party risk its iron grip on power by holding free, fair and credible elections!
In 2008 elections Zanu PF crossed the double red lines. Mugabe and his cronies were shocked when SADC and AU refused to endorse the party’s victory and grant it political legitimacy, as they had always done in the past. The party was forced to sign the 2008 Global Political Agreement and to go into 2008 to 2013 GNU.
The GNU was both punitive measure (punishment for cheating and use of wanton violence) and a corrective one. The primary task of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms to ensure the rigging and violence of 2008 will never be repeated ever again.
Alas! Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends who should have implemented the reforms turned out to be corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent. Mugabe bribed them with the trappings of high office, the ministerial limos, generous allowances and salaries, a US$ 4 million mansion for Tsvangirai himself, etc., etc. And to show their gratitude to the dictator, the MDC leaders throw the reform out of the window.
Not even one token reform was implemented in five years of the GNU. Zanu PF emerged out of the GNU with all its dictatorial powers, including the carte blanche powers to rig elections and to use violence, untouched.
However, Zanu PF knew from the GNU that the days of the de facto one-party state were over; post 2013 Zimbabwe had to be a multi-party state. Whilst the party continued to rig elections to retain its iron grip on power it, nonetheless, had to allow the opposition to win some seats to maintain the multi-party facade. In 2018 Mnangagwa created POLAD to reward losing presidential candidates who publicly swore the elections were free, fair and credible. A small price to pay for political credibility and legitimacy.
It is therefore nonsensical to suggest “Zanu PF and Mnangagwa won’t be bothered about the world view or reaction.”
The overriding reason why the opposition has continued to participate in these flawed elections is greed as David Coltart confirmed in his book.
“The (2013) electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility,” confessed David Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
Indeed what Hopewell Chin’ono is giving as his second reason why the opposition cannot boycott elections is merely an acknowledgement that greed rules the roost in the opposition camp.
The ordinary Zimbabwean has risked life and limb to elect the MDC/CCC leaders on the understanding the party would implement the democratic reforms to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. After 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, Chamisa and company have failed to implement even one token reform. Worse still, since the GNU debacle they have been participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship and the masses’ suffering.
Whilst it is as clear as day that the elections are “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw,” and that participating will only perpetuate the ordinary Zimbabwean’s suffering.
Along comes the “Award winning International Journalist, Film Maker, etc., etc.” to warn us against boycotting the elections even when it is “the only logical step”. “If Nelson Chamisa decided to boycott elections today, many of his parliamentary candidates will rebel” and participate regardless out of greed, as we already know.
Let us all be clear, Zimbabwe would have ended the curse of rigged elections and bad governance by 2013, at the latest if MDC/CCC lasted had not sold out by failing to implement reforms and by participating in flawed elections out of greed. And Hopewell Chin’ono in his infantile wisdom is arguing that we must perpetuate our own suffering by participating in these flawed elections because boycott will risk CCC breaking up.
MDC/CCC has failed to deliver even one reform in 23 years and has all but given up on reforms and free and fair elections and is participating in these flawed elections out of greed. It really beggars belief how anyone would argue ordinary Zimbabweans to participate in flawed election to perpetuate their own suffering for no other purpose than to feed the insatiable greed of the opposition leaders!
Chin’ono the number one priority of every thinking Zimbabwean out there must be how to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and with it the fail state. It is really insane to keep participate in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy especially after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections. It is stupid enough to participate hoping against hope that the opposition will win. But to justify the insanity and the continued heartbreaking suffering of povo on grounds of pandering to the greed of the incompetent and utterly useless opposition takes the biscuit!
No wonder the country is in a mess. With journalists/advisers like Chin’ono the country will continue to hold elections even with voters’ roll “not fit for a burial society election”! We will never ever get out of this mess. Never!
49 comments:
Is it possible to have free, fair and credible elections when the voters' roll "is not fit for burial society elections"?
https://www.facebook.com/4415858595176450/videos/277937541598570
@Koach
“I think the game that is currently being played is fast mimicking the game of thrones...to seat on the iron throne you have to be a strategist.
My assessment is some are busy playing Chess while others are in lala land playing a primitive game of checkers.
After much thought and reflection l suspect Kasukuwere playing a very sophisticated game of chess. He knows this system very well. He understands how to frustrate the system....and by all accounts he has managed to do just that so far.
It’s foolhardy for anyone to think Savior is in this race to win it. The presidency in Zimbabwe has never been won out right through election. If you doubt my analysis l dare you go ask Joshua Nkomo 1980.... Tekere 1992 Tsvangirai 2008 and most recent Chamisa 2018.
Savior knows this far too well. As the only political commissar ( the man that presides over the machinery) many before him have died holding this so powerful position. He served and lived to tell the strong and then challenged the status core....the nerve !!
I suspect his audience is not the electorate....his audience are the secret security forces who have the power to effect.change.
Chamisa and company are playing their cards.close the vest.(smart)...but one thing is for sure ...we are.about.to.see.who has deep brains here.
I worry we Will all be shocked 😲 with the end result!!!”
I do agree with you that these elections are about an election game of chess where we are only allowed to see some of the pieces and some of the players and know some of the rules. I also agree that Kasukuwere knows a lot more than many of the other players, he is certainly better resourced to pay for inside information for one thing. This is why I have argued this will never be a free, fair and credible elections.
The tragedy here is that after 43 years of independence in this day and age, we in Zimbabwe are still failing to hold free, fair and credible elections. Instead of implementing the reforms to ensure free and fair elections we are trying to win rigged elections even after 43 years of Zanu PF rigging elections. That speaks volumes of us as a people; we cannot govern ourselves!
Our failure to demand reforms to ensure free and fair elections has to be one of the most foolish things we have ever done. As much as Mnangagwa would like to think that he and his cronies are running Zimbabwe, the truth is they are just puppets on strings, the Chinese and Russians are the one pulling the strings.
UZA is no more a project of Zanu PF than CCC and all the other opposition parties are Zanu PF projects. UZA has joined the rat race for the same reason as everyone else to win some of the bait on offer, gravy train seats, Political Party Finance Act payout and POLAD freebies that Zanu PF is dishing out to entice the opposition to participate. Zanu PF needs the opposition to participate to get political legitimacy.
Chamisa and company are participating in these flawed elections out of greed and they don’t like the competition! They think they alone should be the opposition players in Zimbabwe. Chamisa would have joined POLAD if it was not so crowded!
This is the kind of slogan that would appeal to the mentally retarded, they are incapable of choosing leaders on the basis of something substantive and so they are going for trivial matters! The country is a failed state and therefore has a lot to talk about but not so to a village idiot! No wonder the country is in a mess.
Even you must know that Zanu PF is rigging these elections, you cannot be that stupid and blind. You are participating in these flawed elections to give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy in the hope of winning some of the bait on offer, the gravy train seats, a cut of Political Party Finance Act payout and the POLAD freebies!
Zimbabwe is stuck in this mess because the opposition have sold out on reforms and free elections just as Muzorewa and Sithole had sold out an independent Zimbabwe to Smith in 1978 for 30 pieces of silver. History has the habit to repeat itself Mugabe had no problem bribing Tsvangirai and company to forget about reforms during the GNU and all the new opposition parties that have followed since have been after the bribes Zanu PF was offering and nothing else.
@ Team Pachedu
“There are 2 525 voters who claim to reside at House Number 401 Ushewekunze in Churu constituency The majority are recent transfers. In 2018 there were only 6 voters at this address.”
How anyone can continue to justify participating in an election process so flawed and illegal even a very limited audit has uncovered so many glaring illegalities beggars belief. It should be remember here that ZEC would not have release this VR without cleaning it up - the VR that will be used on 23 August will be a different animal.
Besides ZEC is renowned for allowing many people o vote who are not of the voters’ roll using voter registration slip under the pretext it was too late to add them to the role. It would appear some one made a mistake by entering the 2 525 on the VR.
These election are a farce and it is an outrage that this circus has been allowed to continue all these years because the opposition have connived with Zanu PF for 30 pieces of silver. Zimbabwe is a failed state and as a result millions our people are living in abject poverty. How long are we going to allow these people to suffer for the sake of the insatiable greed of the few???
These elections must be called off now and it is totally irresponsible to participate in any way to give Zanu PF legitimacy!
So you think similar things did not happen in 2018 and yet MDC A did not stop participating claiming the party has "stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections"? CCC are hell bent on participating in these 2023 elections regardless of the glaring flaws and illegalities because all they are after is the gravy train seats on offer as bait!
@ Walter
“Definitely you should be blamed as well because what have you done to an individual level??? Since makanga mune party.
Then on the other hand we also blame ourselves as citizens. We allowed zanu-pf to oppress us for a long period of time without taking action.”
And in all this you have said nothing about the MDC leaders who were elected into power, were in the GNU for five years and yet failed to implement even one reform.
I was never elected into public office and yet you insist on blaming me for the failure to implement reforms but say nothing about those who were elected and paid to to do it. Why? It is not that you are that stupid not to see the irrational argument. You are just desperate to silence me.
I am holding MDC/CCC leaders to account for selling out on reforms and you want to silence me at all cost and so blame me for MDC/CCC leaders’ failures!
I will hold Chamisa et al account and will never be silence by a howler monkey like you! Never!
@ Koach
“The tragedy is that we all keep assuming and wishing for things that are out of scope. In the history of Zimbabwe we have never ever had free and fair elections. And you think it's going to start now...??
I do think that Team Pachedu and The likes of Kuda Musasiwa have offered up brilliant ideas. That will help expose the system....but altenate decision on who rules is not the electorate.
As a people we lack the spirit of Unity. We can't even rally behind a single idea.
These two faulty traits have and will continue to be our greatest undoing!!!!”
We have a knack for uniting behind a foolish idea. These last ten years the people have participated in these flawed elections because they were sold to the idiotic notion the opposition can win rigged elections.
The people have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders on the promise the party would implement the democratic changes the nation was dying for. But even this brilliant idea was soon lost in translation because no one bothered to define what those democratic changes were.
It is clear that Morgan Tsvangirai and many of those around him had no clue what the changes are and so it was no surprise that they failed to implement even one reform. The MDC wildebeest herd have remained faithful as a dog to the MDC/CCC leaders regardless the blatant betrayals because they have no clue, even to this day, what the reforms are. How can they blame Chamisa for selling out on something they do not know!
Many people are going to participate in these flawed elections not knowing they will give Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuate their own suffering. They are hell bent on participating even after 43 years of rigged elections. They have been conned into believing it is the only sure way to end the dictatorship. And they have swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker!
Our biggest problem is we have a very naive and gullible populous and the ruling elite have captured them and kept them ignorant and poor to better serve the elite’s selfish needs. This country is going nowhere as long as the majority are deliberately kept ignorant and desperately poor!
@ Chamisa
“CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has promised President Emmerson Mnangagwa a seat in Zimbabwe's 10th Parliament as Leader of Opposition, a position the former unsuccessfully tabled for him in 2018.
Chamisa, who is widely expected to present Mnangagwa with the most competition among 10 other presidential candidates, was speaking at a rally in Chirumanzu South constituency where he had gone to drum up support for his parliamentary candidate Patrick Cheza.
In 2018, with intentions of making it back into the United Kingdom's (UK) Commonwealth, Mnangagwa offered Chamisa a similar post.
"Under our Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, the opposition is recognised; we recognise the leader of the opposition in Parliament. This is what we are going to do ourselves," said Mnangagwa.
A constitutional amendment was reportedly considered by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, a move that was eventually scuttled by Chamisa's decision to dismiss Zanu-PF's antics.
Chamisa knows that Zanu PF is rigging these elections, knows that CCC is participating to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the sake of the few gravy train seats and a cut of the Political Party Finance Act annual payout. As leader of the opposition he gets about 20% of the party’s share of the payout. He wants more.
He is sending Mnangagwa a clear message - this time he will accept a seat in parliament as opposition leader and, hopeful, plus shadow ministerial positions for his lieutenants, of course, with all the usual trapping of office.
Chamisa is fishing for the mitzvahs commiserate with his contribution in getting Mnangagwa political legitimacy.
Chamisa is fishing for the mitzvahs commiserate with his contribution in getting Mnangagwa political legitimacy. He will accept the leader of the opposition post this time and pretend it is not just a variation of the POLAD freebies, after all he is the one who proposed it!
https://www.zimeye.net/2023/07/26/president-chamisa-promises-ed-leader-of-opposition-seat-post-2023/
@ Cogito
What is ok? That Chamisa continues to participating in flawed elections, "so flawed and so illegal the only rational thing to do was to withdraw" to give Zanu PF legitimacy and the suffering of the nations for the sake of 30 pieces of silver? How can that ever be OK you nincompoop?
@ Don't forget to pray
"Mr Mukori if you had to be a Presidential candidate over against ZANU PF what's your strategy to win."
I would make sure all the democratic reforms are implemented in full so that the freedoms and rights of every Zimbabwean including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country are finally sorted out once and once for all. Not only for this generation but for posterity.
If I was to contest in any election that is free, fair and credible, even if I lost I would be comforted by the thought that the best candidate in the race won. I will benefit from having the most competent leader in many ways than just wanting to be called Mr President for a few years!
Contesting in these flawed elections has always delivered the one with the power to rig as the winner and in this case a buffoon and a tyrant will win as long as he/she has the power to rig. I am sick and tired of this political system that has failed us and yet we are stuck with it because of greed.
@ Evangelist
“Gore RINO totoenda Pama polling stations nembuva nezvigubhu zvemvura atigezi kusvika tanzva ma results enough is enough.”
You still don’t get it, do you!
What Team Pachedu have uncovered on the voters’ roll alone shows that Zanu PF is rigging these elections way ahead of time. What is the point of you guarding the results when you failed to stop the 2 525 fictitious voters living at 401 Ushewekunze casting their vote, for example.
These elections show NOT be going ahead without a verified voters’ roll and all the other flaws and illegalities sorted out. This notion of winning rigged elections is insane. It is shocking how anyone can still believe in such nonsense even after 43 years of rigged elections!
@ Dombo
“Empty Vessels makes a lot of noise ,Why don't you face Chamisa direct than wasting our time here.”
It is true that empty vessels make a lot of noise and I go further to say many of these empty vessels have the vote and hence the reason why Zimbabwe in is this mess.
Yes Zanu PF is the principle cause of the country’s problems but we must also admitted that the nations has had many golden opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and MDC/CCC wasted these chances. As long as as MDC/CCC remain the nation’s main opposition the country will remain stuck in this mess because the opposition is supposed to fight in our corner against the dictatorship - Chamisa and company are no longer fighting in our corner.
Sadly there are many empty vessels out there who refuse to accept CCC are sell outs and so the idiots continue to give CCC their blind support undermining the effort for change. The idea of letting these idiots have the final say and drag the nation even deeper into this hell-on-earth is unthinkable. The idiots must be addressed head-on and shown how their stupidity is holding the nation to ransom.
You do or say something dumb and you will be held to account. Those who elect and keep failed leaders into office are accountable for it just as the leaders themselves are accountable.Some of the idiots even defend the failed leaders because they think they are special. Of course, such foolish mustard will be dealt with.
I m determined to silence the howling monkeys who are helping buffoon stay in power by stifling debate and democratic competition because they (the monkeys) believe political leaders are demigods who must never be questions. I will not only question leaders but hold them to account and drive the monkeys crazy!
Team Pachedu has uncovered on dirty in the voters' roll. It is irresponsible to allow this circus to continue.
Discussion tonight at 7.00 pm UK time
https://streamyard.com/4s25zgs286
@ David T
"Lots of unnecessary venom towards Chamisa in the comments, but I think these proposals are awesome. Let's have free and violence free elections."
So you think Chamisa is interested in free and fair elections? How naive. If he was then he would have implemented the reforms during the GNU. He did not implement even one token reform.You need to wake up and smell the humous!
Chamisa is asking for opposition leader position for himself! He is to proud to join POLAD that is all. Chamisa and the rest in the opposition know that by participating they are giving Zanu PF legitimacy he just wants to be rewarded separately from the other POLAD sell outs!
Of course, Chamisa is a sell out and this was settled beyond all doubt whe MDC leaders failed to implement even one democratic reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU.
Chamisa is asking for opposition leader position for himself! He is to proud to join POLAD that is all. Chamisa and the rest in the opposition know that by participating they are giving Zanu PF legitimacy he just wants to be rewarded separately from the other POLAD sell outs!
Of course, Chamisa is a sell out and this was settled beyond all doubt when MDC leaders failed to implement even one democratic reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU.
@ Amnesty International
“What we have seen in Zimbabwe over the past five years amounts to a brutal crackdown on human rights, especially the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Respect for socio-economic rights has also declined dramatically, leaving many people in abject poverty with no means to put food on the table,” said Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa.
“The Zimbabwean authorities have revealed their brazen contempt for basic freedoms and shown that there is no space for dissent in the so-called ‘second republic’. The police have also repeatedly resorted to excessive use of force to suppress human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly.”
This is a nightmare! What we have is a regime that believes it has the divine right to rule the country and will do whatever it deems necessary to ensure it retains power at all cost. Zanu PF has contempt for human life much less for such niceties as freedom of expression or the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country.
Our situation has become intolerable because we have the opposition leaders who having failed to implement democratic reforms have now given up on reform and free and fair elections. They have settled for participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy in return for a share of the spoils of power.
To justify why they have abandoned reforms and keep participating in these flawed elections, MDC/CCC leaders have been telling their naive followers the party has devised winning in rigged elections strategies. All lies to hide the real reason for participating - greed.
Zimbabwe is a failed state and we are well and truly stuck because we cannot hold free, fair and credible elections - even 43 years after independence and in this day and age! Hell!
Some Zimbabwean nationals who live and ply their trade in South Africa have expressed willingness to return to their home country to participate in its economic growth and voting in the upcoming elections.
Zimbabwe heads to the polls on August 23rd. The country's National Statistics Agency last week announced that the country's gross domestic product grew by 6.2% during the first quarter of 2023.
A Zimbabwean national, Kripo Chinyowa, says there is a glimmer of hope for the country's economy getting back on its feet. Chiyowa says he's planning to extend his graphic design business back home and is looking forward to the elections next month.
My heart goes to all Zimbabweans wherever they are in the world who are hoping against hope that these elections will mark the beginning of a new Zimbabwe. My heart breaks for you all because I know you will be disappointed to see Zanu PF stomp to victory confirming your worst fears of yet another rigged election!
Zanu PF is rigging these elections, one does not need to wait for 24 August to know that. People must know that by failing to condemn the flawed process you are giving Zanu PF legitimacy. Silence is golden but there are times when it is not. Your silence will be assumed to be approval.
Those who are participating in these flawed elections are foolishly and publicly giving Zanu PF legitimacy. They have no cause to complain of rigged elections because they have been warned this is happening but would not listen.
It is really unforgivable that 43 years after independence, in this day and age, and we are still failing to hold free, fair and credible elections. It is not rocket science for Pete’s sake.
There is no getting out of this hell-hole until we implement reforms and finally hold free and fair elections. It is that simple!
@ Mavaza
“Zimeye: Mavaza: Zimbabwe Strangled and Brutalised by CCC and its Colonial Masters.”
One of the most infuriating bullies do is accuse their victim of perpetrating the abuses the inflict to their victims. CCC are being accused of cause the violence and even "beating themselves up"!
Mavaza has no respect for other people's basic human rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life. It is no surprise he has no respect for facts, reality and truth. It is utterly pointless to try to have any discussion with him because he denies even well established historic facts.
Countries like SA had the great fortune in having founding fathers like the late Nelson Mandela who truly care about freedom and liberty of all South African. His greatest legacy to that nation was a country with truly democratic institutions committed to upholding the rights and dignity all South African.
Mugabe and his cronies paid lip service to freedom and liberty of all Zimbabweans, all they care about is power and the wealth and influence it gave them. They created a ruthless dictatorship and upstarts like Mavaza have jumped on the bandwagon to defend the tyrannical regime - for selfish reasons, of course!
Wrestling power from the regimes and its apologists is not going to be easy and having a corrupt and incompetent opposition has only made the task even harder!
Chamisa names his price for participating in 2023 elections to give Mnangagwa legitimacy.
Chamisa says he will create "Leader of opposition" post for Mnangagwa after 24 August. A post he was offered in 2018 but refused because of its close association with POLAD. He is sending a subtle message, another one of his "strategic ambiguity", to say he is ready to accept the post as his reward for participating in these flawed elections to give Mnangagwa legitimacy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8bRQGeFEZQ
@ Testimony
“So you are the only fighting the good fight ?!😃”
No you, Cogito and the rest of the howling monkeys troop are the ones "fighting the good fight". You are the ones holding Wilbert Mukori to account for failing to implement even one democratic reform in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU. The fact that he has never hold public office much less in the GNU and you have said nothing about those who were in power, is irrelevant. We are talking about howler monkeys here.
You are fighting the good fight of drowning out debate and silencing all who dare hold your demigod leaders to account.
The nation has been fighting Zanu PF thugs and village idiots like Dr Mavaza in this group for freedom of expression, human rights, free elections, etc. for the last 43 years. And just when the ordinary man and woman’s voice was beginning to be heard, along comes MDC/CCC howler monkeys determined to drown it out! No wonder the nation is in a mess, very generation has to fight for its freedoms and rights and so that is all we ever do.
@ Doc Lingra
“Wilbert. Chamisa said ZANUPF will not rig elections again . He has everything in place to stop it.”
Yes Chamisa has said he has measures to stop Zanu PF rigging these elections and so even EU, SADC, Americans and everyone else out there who was talking about the need to implement the democratic reforms BEFORE these elections had no choice but to shut up. How can they, outsiders for that matter, know better than the Zimbabweans themselves.
After all in Nelson Chamisa, we are not talking of a mere mortal but a demigod, #GodIsInIt! If Chamisa says, "CCC will win big!" then CCC WILL win big. If the great Chamisa says he has "covered all the Zanu PF vote rigging loopholes" then you can bet your bottom dollar ALL vote rigging loopholes have been sealed for eternity!
Zimbabwe is failed state because we have the great misfortune to have a ruling party of corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs, on the one hand and on the other an opposition camp full of corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless buffoons. We are a nation caught between the rock and a hard place. Whatever happens on 24 August, we can be certain of one thing we will continue to sink into the abyss. These elections will change nothing!
Heartbreaking News
CCC Under Siege as High Court Bars 12 Bulawayo Parliamentary Candidates
27th July 2023
By Wezhira Munya
The High Court of Zimbabwe has barred 12 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentary candidates in Bulawayo from participating in the 23rd August 2023 harmonized elections.
Justice Bongani Ndlovu ruled that the 12 CCC candidates filed their nomination papers after the 4 PM deadline.”
If this is true then here is CCC shooting themselves in the foot before the rat race has even started. Urban centres are the opposition’s strong holds and it beggars belief how they could mess this up!
@ Mujuru
Mai Mujuru admits that Zanu PF generated over 2 000 extra vote in one constituency translating to 420 000 votes country wide.
The infuriating thing here is that whilst everybody is calling for democratic reforms to be implemented BEFORE elections the loudest voices calling for elections to go ahead without reforms are coming from MDC/CCC. Chamisa and company are insisting that elections go ahead because "ED has no room for rigging!"
After 43 years of rigging elections, we are still being asked to believe in winning rigged elections. We all know CCC will be complaining of rigged elections come 24 August 2023. How long are we going to allow this madness to continue? How long!!!!!
CCC can see the elections are flaw but they can also see the gravy train seats on offer as bait. It is the wildebeest herd who are refusing to see the sheer futility of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and are refusing to see CCC leaders' for the corrupt and incompetent individuals they are!
Cartoon of Zanu PF with their skin and bones bull and Chamisa with "Mutirikwi"!
Zanu PF is rigging these elections but, of course, it is in the party's interest to maintain the facade that these are free, fair and credible elections and that the opposition with the mountain of the bull will win hands down.
Even after 43 year of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections, it is shocking how many millions of Zimbabweans still believe the myth these elections are free, fair and credible. Of course, they are insane and hence the reason why Zimbabwe is in a mess.
We have more that our fair share of mentally challenged people and to crown it, they have a vote! And the country’s corrupt and incompetent political leaders, from both sides of the political divide, are taking full advantage of the naive, ignorant and increasingly desperate electorate to maintain the status quo.
@ Valerio
One of the advantages of participating is the rock star, Holy Wood star status! Next is the POLAD freebies. She, like the rest in the opposition camp, knows that her participation will give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuate the dictatorship. She does not care or give a damn! Such is the calibre of Zimbabwe's opposition!
In 1978 Muzorewa and Sithole signed the internal settlement with Ian Smith, knowing fully well that it reduced blacks to second class citizens, at best. History is repeating itself. We have a new generation of political sell outs!
Here we go, CCC shooting themselves in the foot before the rat race has even started. Urban centres are the opposition’s strong holds and it beggars belief how they could mess this up!
This case has the making of the MDC A leadership challenge following Chamisa’s seizure of leadership of the party in 2018. Many party members felt the seizure had been unconstitutional but they were quickly silenced or ostracised. The accepted party position was that this was all Zanu PF’s doing to destroy MDC! No doubt if this Court decision sticks, Chamisa and his wildebeest herd will say this was just another case of Zanu PF rigging the elections, regardless the merits of the case.
The irony is if the party had admitted the mistakes made in seizing power after Tsvangirai’s death and many other similar cases then the party would have learned from the mistakes and, hopefully, avoid repeating similar mistakes.
Come 24 August, we can be certain Chamisa and company will be accusing Zanu PF of rigging these elections. They will conveniently forgot that Chamisa has been boosting of closing all the vote rigging loopholes!
Another five more years of this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship is unthinkable and yet it is a certainty.
Zanu PF will never ever admit Zimbabwe is a failed state even in the face of all the evidence of the state’s failure to provide basis services such as health care and education and that 49% of our people are living in abject poverty. The party is rigging these 2023 elections, just as it has rigged past elections, Mutsvangwa will insist the elections are free, fair and credible. A shining example of democratic elections in the whole world!
Zanu PF is getting away with these rigged elections thanks to the corrupt and incompetent of MDC/CCC who not only failed to implement even one reform in 23 years but have been participating in the flawed elections to give the regime legitimacy. CCC's Fadzai Mahere has one thing in common with Chris Mutsvangwa, she too will never ever admit of CCC's failure. She has been adamant that CCC is win these 2023 elections because the party has plugged all the vote rigging loopholes.
Zimbabwe is a failed state thanks to the double whammy of having a corrupt, incompetent, murderous and, most significantly, vote rigging ruling party, on the one hand. And a corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless opposition on the other. Having an electorate that hardly knows their left hand from the right has only made the situation worse because both Zanu PF and CCC have conned the voters to for the political elite’s selfish gain.
@ EU Observers
It is very sad that not even one of the reform recommendations from the 2018 EU report have been acted upon. Both Zanu PF and CCC have paid any attention to the report. The later because the party believes it has winning in rigged elections strategies snd so does not need reforms. As for Zanu PF why would the party implement even one token reform when it knows the opposition will participate no matter what and give the party legitimacy, guaranteed!
I do salute the EU and all the other observer teams for bothering to send observer teams and produce detailed reports when they know the chances are their reports will be ignored, again. Thank you.
Trust me the ordinary Zimbabweans are aspiring to the day the country will finally hold its first free, fair and credible elections. It is the country's political leaders, from both sides of the political divide who are letting the nation down.
THINK tank, Institute for Security Studies Africa, says disputed polls are brewing in Zimbabwe as the current election regulatory framework falls short in conforming to the regional guidelines.
In a statement, ISS said current conditions in Zimbabwe paint a gloomy picture as far as the electoral playing field, predicting a recurrence of 2018.
"Zimbabwe is on course for another contested election. Current conditions don't conform with the Southern African Development Community's election guidelines, nor do they provide an even electoral playing field. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has perfected the use of non-violent coercion to intimidate people into acquiescence.
"Over the past five years, the democratic space has narrowed as the law has been weaponized, opposition members and activists prosecuted, and COVID-19 regulations used to shut down civic and political activism," read the statement.
"Lawfare used during the Mnangagwa administration has produced a cowed citizenry. The arrests of leading civic and political activists and journalists demanding accountability and transparency have further dampened spirits. The recent passing of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Act (‘Patriot Act') seals the sustained use of unjust laws to intimidate citizens," read the report further.
Furthermore, ISS contends that the participation of former Zanu-PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere will add another dimension that might result in a run-off.
"In the current circumstances, the prospects of an election result being accepted by the major players seem remote. Chances of a second round of voting will increase if the former ZANU-PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, is allowed to participate. ZANU-PF is keen to prevent that, as the stakes would rise considerably in such a scenario, along with prospects for violence like in 2008.
What is really infuriating here is that everyone, everyone including the opposition leaders themselves have known all along that these elections are flawed and participating will only give Zanu PF legitimacy. They are soldiering on regardless out of greed, pure and simple.
“The (2013) electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility,” confessed David Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
The real big question is: How long is the nation going to allow this madness to continue? The country is already a failed state, basic services such as health care and education have all but collapsed and 49% of our people are now living in abject poverty. So we ask again: How long is the nation going to allow this madness to continue?
“Even at his worst, Robert Mugabe never tried to remove opponents whom he feared from the ballot paper. Zanu PF’s removal of 12 Bulawayo candidates renders this a full blown dictatorship and an outpost of tyranny. Why are you afraid of the will of the people?” Mahere said.
The trouble with CCC is that the party will never admit making a mistake even when there is evidence; they are like Zanu PF in that regard.
The 12 candidates submitted their nomination papers at 15.25, just 35 minutes before the 16.00 dead line, according to Professor Welshman Ncube, one of the CCC's lawyer on this case. All contestants were told they could bring their nomination paper two days ahead of the nomination day for checking. The court stayed on to check the nomination papers past midnight. The nomination fees were paid the following day.
Why did CCC fail to do this only to submit their nomination papers 35 minutes before closing?
@ E D
“Mr Mukori is a you only see the negtive side of Chamisa and M.D.C if I am not mistaken. I think you should also consider CCC positive side also because its a citizens thing not Chamisa and you as as a Zimbo you have a right to choose a better political part and vote for it.”
Zimbabwe has blundered from pillar to post because we have been conditioned to see the positive side of our political leaders and never the negative side. You want me to see the positive side of Chamisa and attribute all the negative to "us the citizens". How convenient.
On the matter of the 12 CCC candidates’ late nomination submission, what is it exactly are you blaming the citizens for?
The truth is CCC is just a one man band, Nelson Chamisa, plus a handful of supporting actors. Just as Zanu PF is a one man band Mnangagwa and before him Mugabe. Margaret Dongo once called he follow Zanu PF MPs and Ministers “vakadzi vaMugabe” because they were (are) nothing but servile concubines!
You can pretend all you want that citizens have a say in CCC, the don’t. You can pretend all you want that CCC is winning big; it is not. CCC leaders are participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed! You need to wake up and stop treating fallible mortals like Chamisa as demigods who must never be questioned much less held to account!
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said that he may not take part in the presidential election slated for August 23 "without legal and constitutional guarantees" following the barring of 12 CCC candidates for MP in Bulawayo by the high Court.
Responding to inquiries on what the ruling party made of Mr Chamisa's alleged threat, Ambassador Mutsvangwa said: "He can boycott to political oblivion . . . that way he avoids punishing loss from an electorate that has long dismissed him as a leader of a party fractured to smithereens.
"Whichever way, Chamisa has destroyed the party Morgan Tsvangirai built.
"All said, Chamisa is just an organisational mess. Best he sticks to preaching and abandons politics to the seasoned Zanu-PF.”
Chamisa shot himself in the foot and if he thinks he can blame Zanu PF for it then he might just as well shoot himself in the head! Indeed, Zanu PF will give him the gun and the bullets to do it!
Blaming Zanu PF for the 12 Bulawayo candidate fiasco has to be one of the most foolish things MDC/CCC has ever done; God knows the list is a long one. But boycotting elections on the basis on CCC’s own blundering incompetence would take the biscuit!
There are a million reasons why CCC should have boycotted these elections, Chamisa and company ignored all of them out of greed. Now he wants to boycott because he blundered. How idiotic is that? But then, this is Chamisa who has proven beyond all reasonable doubt that he is corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent!
#BREAKING Supreme Court has thrown out Saviour Kasukuwere's appeal against disqualification from running for president.
'We carefully considered the evidence and oral submissions by both counsels. Court is of view the appeal lacks merit. Appeal be and is hereby dismissed.’
This was not surprising given he was appealing on the basis the High Judge was compromise because he received a gift of a house from Zanu PF. The Supreme Court judges he was appealing to had themselves too had received the same US$400 000 house gift from the same said source, Zanu PF.
@ Cogito
“That’s why I always have issue with him, he likes calling all those who doesn't support his dream Howler Monkeys. It's so embarrassing and inhumane to liken someone to an animal nyangwe takava nemuono wakasiya in life that doesn't mean kuti iye Mukori whatever he says is right to the extent of him calling another fellow countryman a monkey.”
You and you fellow howler monkeys have never addressed the issues I raised; that Zanu PF is rigging the elections and that CCC is participating out of greed. All you have ever wanted to do is attack the messenger and not the message and your strategy was to drown the message by asking stupid questions like: What did you do, as an individual to implement the reforms?
You just did not want anyone to hold MDC/CCC to account for the failures.
Howler monkeys make a lot of noise to drown all other sounds and if you thought you could do the same and get away with it. You were wrong.
Address the issues and stop trying to stifle debate by behaving like a howler monkey and you will be treated like a human being. It is that simple!
Team Pachedu
@PacheduZW
27/07/2023
Huge disaster in Gweru!
ZEC has illegally changed Gweru Municipality wards into Vungu Rural District wards.
Thousands of voters will now be voting in wrong wards.
Most affected are:
- Claremont Park
- Adelaide Park
- Mtausi Park
- Senga Infill
ZEC must be sued!
Anybody who is anybody has said these elections should not go-ahead without something as basic as a verified voters’ roll and therefore all these flaws and illegalities are to be expected. Zimbabwe has never ever had a verified voters’ roll in 43 years of the country’s independence. Never!
The opposition has known this and have insisted in participating in these flawed elections because they were after the few gravy train seats on offer as bait. MDC/CCC gave up all pretence of implementing the reforms to ensure free and fair elections during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. They have been participating in these flawed elections claiming they have winning in rigged elections strategies. Last week Chamisa told the world CCC “had covered all the vote rigging loopholes”. So Team Pachedu is tell us this was just hot air!
@ Ben
“A very wise and logical move. Well done for thinking along those lines. Homework for zanu now.”
CCC blundered in failing to submit the nomination papers on time and to blame Zanu PF for it is naive. If they boycott on such idiotic grounds that will just be foolish because no one else will ever accept it was Zanu PF's fault.
The irony would be that CCC refused to boycott elections over important matters like the failure to produce a verified voters' roll and are now threatening to boycott because they blundered but want to blame someone else. That is stupidity at its epoch-making!
MDC was deserted in droves by all with half a brain for failing to implement even one democratic reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. If CCC thinks he will have a flood gate of sympathisers if he boycotted the elections over this Bulawayo candidate debacle then he is in for a shock!
@ Godfrey
“The banning of the 12 submitted well in time as reported by the authority ZEC was bound to be the last straw to break their resilience to the ongoing onslaught.
How do they define submission in this instance:
The general definition is handing over of documents - the slow pace of processing of the documents has nothing to do with the applicant.”
True, the document were received by ZEC at 15.25, which 35 minutes before the 16.00 closing time. The time to process was known to be time consuming and that is why every contestant was encouraged to bring their nomination on Monday and Tuesday, two days ahead of the nomination day, so that the time consuming bit could be dealt with. Contestant had the opportunity to submit their nomination on nomination day itself from 8.00 am.
The last nomination papers were checked after midnight. It is not clear whether these were the 12 CCC candidates’ papers only or there were other candidates from other parties. The nomination fees were paid the following day after the 8.00 am when the payments could be processed.
Is it reasonable to expect that those who had not taken advantage of the two days to get their nomination papers checked to be early on nomination day and not 35 minutes before closing time, when it would be impossible to complete the nomination at 16.00 hour? That is what the High Court was and now the Supreme Court is being asked to rule on.
Of course, CCC does not come out of this squeaky clean and to pretend otherwise is to refuse to accept the facts.
This is yet another blast of hot air. "The 12 candidates in Bulawayo will NOT be disqualified!" Chamisa said. The High Court has just done that and the Supreme Court may well confirm that decision. This is just a repeat of the HC ruling in 2019 that Chamisa had seized power unconstitutional after Tsvangirai's death. Chamisa made the usual grandstanding and posturing; all hot air. The SC confirmed the ruling and Chamisa was booted out of the Harvest House and throw the opposition into utter chaos and confusion. It was only Zanu PF that benefited from the mess, not the nation.
CCC is participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and all these self inflicted blunders are only helping Zanu PF and not the nation.
USA ambassador to Zimbabwe 2004 to 2007, Chris Dell, said in a leaked cable back to Washington that the late Morgan Tsvangirai was “a flawed and indecisive character would would become an albatross round Zimbabwe’s neck if he ever got into power”. He could have said the same about the rest of the MDC/CCC buffoons and time has proven the ambassador was right.
Indeed, the way MDC/CCC has blundered from one crisis into another dragging the nation deeper and deeper into the abyss; I do not think even ambassador Dell ever imagined MDC/CCC leaders could be this corrupt, incompetent and utterly, utterly useless!
CCC is participating in these elections to give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy and, thanks to Chamisa’s blundering incompetence, Mnangagwa does not even need to rig these elections! Chamisa is giving Mnangagwa victory in a silver platter!
@ Cliff
“They have started to rig....now let them go on with their puppet parties in this sham election. No need for CCC to endorse flawed elections.”
CCC will never boycott these elections because they known the elections were being rigged and they soldiered on out of greed. The gravy train seats they had hoped to get they are giving them away to Zanu PF, free gifts. If CCC boycott these elections it would be because they are so incompetent they cannot compete with the other opposition opportunists and nothing to do with Zanu PF!
If you think anyone out there will blame Zanu PF for the Bulawayo 12 candidate fiasco, then you are even more naive and gullible than Chamisa! Chamisa shot himself in the foot and if he boycotts now it will be shooting himself in the head!
@ Mahupete
“Not too long ago on this group I intimated kuti vanhu ve CCC will look at Wiri and say, "gara zviye wakange uchitii"!! Though I, like others, asked him kuti after boycott then what? I was asking in jest cos I knew his solution was between the lines i.e. external intervention as in SADC and some strange animal he referred to as 'International community' herein to be understood as varungu(neocolonialists). Ukaona wakutsvaka salvation from your 'mind colonisers' then ah..hameno. You see, in retrospect, boycotting could give them some semblance of respect, but unfortunately, from irrelevant institutions.
Ambiguous ambiguity has started backfiring and the downward slide is staring them in the face.”
The big day of reckoning is just round the corner, the lie of CCC winning big will be proven a lie. It is going to be even worse than many imagined given Chamisa’s blundering incompetence has given away even those gravy train seats Zanu PF was offering as bait!
Chamisa has already started campaigning for his reward from Mnangagwa - he now wants the Leader of the Opposition post complete with the parliamentary seat, ministerial limo and all the other perks! Mnangagwa will probably oblige, given all Chamisa has done for the buffoon - he did not even have to rig the vote to win thanks to Chamisa’s blundering incompetence!
@ Osm23
“Iwewe uri benzi
Ndiwe waiti Chamisa must boycott
Now that he is singing your tune,wave kuti he mustn't boycott futi,mxm tsaga.”
Sucking the marrow out of life does not meaning choking on the bone!
I have called for boycotting the elections because the process is so flawed and illegal there is not even something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, rural voters are being frogmarch to attend Zanu PF cell meeting in preparation for being frog-marched to vote, etc. Everyday Team Pachedu is uncovering more and more details on how it is impossible to have a meaningful elections with a voters’ roll that is in such a shambolic state.
For Chamisa to now boycott elections because 12 party candidates were barred from participating for failing to submit their nomination papers on time is foolish. But it proves I was right that CCC are participating out of greed.
Chamisa has given away the gravy train seats he was participating for and so now he finally agrees to boycott the elections. The very fact that it he gifted these seats to Zanu PF because of his own blundering incompetence is lost in translation.
But if you really think anyone will buy the idiotic nonsense that Zanu PF is to blame for CCC candidate’s failure to submit then nomination papers on time then you, Osama23 are smarter than King Solomon himself! You infinite wisdom never ever seize to amaze me.
Yes, your Royal Highness, smart Osama23, benzi ndini, Wilbert Mukori!
@ Phidza
Mutare irikunzi about 6 CCC MPs will be scrapped from ballot. Tozoenda Gweru about 9. Kozoti ma CCC double nominations aya rulled to stand and split CCC vote??? Zanu PF yayenda nechinhu vakomana. Usatamba nezvimadhara izviya. Zvime politics dzekuzvarwa nadxo kwete dzrmubhuku😂😂😂
If this is true then the Court judgement will come out when it is too late to get the names off the ballot. The likely solution will be a by-election which give CCC the chance to get their paper work submitted on time and thus save the party more blushes.
@ Chitando
"ZanuPF may use the courts to try steal the people's vote but our God is in it. We will not allow ZanuPF to get 2/3 just like that. We know to every action there is an equal and opposition reaction. Hokoyo !!! Stop celebrating maruva musati madya chakata. A people's revolution is never defeated by a dictator.!!! “
You are the one who have kept Zanu PF in power by failing to implement reforms and then by participating in flawed elections out of greed. You are so dumb that you are now giving away the gravy train seats you are selling out the nation for!!!!!!
You are thankful that the fiasco in Bulawayo did not happen in Masvingo too because you will be kissing goodbye to the senatorial seat you have your beady eyes upon.
MaChampions maswerasei! Nhasi vakomana vedu vanosanganisira VaChiminya; Gwarazimba nevamwe vaswera vachiisa maPosters edu. Asi pavasvika paSipambi hanzi panga paine maYouth over 400 kubva kumaDistrict ese eMasvingo province vachitwa training ipapo. Pavanga vachinamira maPosters ndipo pavatanga kutemwa nematombo; vamwe maChampions akwanisa kutiza asi VaGwarazimba vabva vabatwa vakarohwa nevanhu vakawanda kwazvo. Vazowana akwanisa kuvabatsira akabva avaviga muToilet. Varohwa vakakuvara parizvino vari pamapurisa kuMasvingo. Vanhu vavarova vanosanganisira Councillor Manyanga ward 10 Masvingo urban; Milton from ward 12, Chauke from Mwenezi hanzi neumww anonzi Mandebvu.”
The ongoing cases of violence would be one of the reasons for boycotting the elections but that is nothing.
When Chamisa learnt that he had gifted away to Zanu PF 12 of the gravy train seats on offer as bait he immediately threatening to boycott the elections. It is for these gravy train seats that CCC is participating in these elections.
@ Walter
“Where is the truth you're just hallucinating your stupidity and nonsensical, but let me tell you one thing for sure Chamisa doesn't have time to listen to cowards like you. So stop howling like a hyena here no one will pay attention to your sh*t.”
You are now howling like the howling monkey you are. Chamisa has made many blunders already and only a village idiot like you would still treat him as if he is an infallible demigod who must never be questioned much less held to account.
Chamisa and company failed to implement even one reform during the GNU and they are participating in these flawed elections to give zanu PF legitimacy. The must account for this, that is not negotiable!
As for you and your howling monkey troopers, short of shooting me dead, you will never ever silence me with your howling. Never!
Post a Comment