Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections were marred by widespread violence. The country’s constitution has its weaknesses, yes, and yes it needs to be amended or replaced. But the one thing no one can do is blame the weak constitution for the 2008 violence and the volumes of similar happenings in the past. The current constitution does not allow the Police and the Army to not only ignore Zanu PF instigated violence but join in on the side of Zanu PF which is exactly what happened in 2008.
MDC has expended its political energy on the writing of the new constitution because it was the easier thing to do. Violence took place because Mugabe and Zanu PF consider themselves to be above the law, particularly when the party’s struggle hold on power is threatened. MDC should therefore have concentrated in using the power in the existing laws and constitution to prosecute all those involved in political violence and thus proves that NO ONE is above the law.
If his hold on power is threatened Mugabe has the whole Zanu PF machinery primed and ready to do whatever it takes to secure another Mugabe victory. The party’s militia have been put on civil service payroll, the party has no money to pay them and the Army, Police and CIO who played since a critical role in 2008 are committed to do so again. Last year Zanu PF party Congress passed a resolution committing these state security agents to backing Zanu PF in future elections because these institutions were “born of the resolution and Zanu PF is the party of the resolution” congress argued!
Zimbabwe would certainly be better off holding the next election under the old constitution but with the threat of fresh violence removed than having a new constitution but with the threat of violence hanging over the nation!
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@Concerned Citizen You are right to be concerned about the anti-white language from some people. The war of independence was fought to end white colonial rule and oppression and people like Mugabe are the heroes of that struggle. When Mugabe realised that his government had failed to delivery freedom, liberty and human dignity to the people of Zimbabwe he sort a scapegoat and moved the debate away from his failed leadership to the familiar ground of anti-white.
People like Fungayi, Aluta, John Berry, Dread Dread6, etc. are the dictator’s foot soldiers; they are programmed to see a white conspiracy in every issue. They have stifled meaningful debate on this site; which is what their master Mugabe pays them to do!
I am concerned about the millions of ordinary blacks whose lives have been turned into a hell-on-earth by Mugabe. Mugabe does not want this said or discussed. The white colonialists treated blacks as second class citizens; Mugabe has treats them much the same way one would treat a mentally challenged relative – make a big farce about how well you listen to them only to ignore them the next minute and, of course, never allow them to make any important decisions.
Concerned Citizen you are fighting that the whites should not be Mugabe's scapegoats. I am fighting that the ordinary black Zimbabweans should not be ignored as if they are invisible and their tragic suffering acknowledged. These are causes worth fighting for but until there is regime change, little will be accomplished!
Zimbabwe had its best chance yet for regime change after the sham 2008 elections; sadly Tsvangirai wasted it. Next time, I am convinced, Mugabe will not get off the hook again!
1 comment:
There are a number of things that we, the public will never know for sure in this case; for example Chikane claims Maguwu gave him the report and the latter had obtained it illegally. Maguwu says Chikane had the report and asked him to comment on it. But the very fact that Chikane considered the report such a hot potato, he dropped it with the Zimbabwe authorities before they found it in his possession, it is not unreasonable to surmise that the report said many things the State did not want the KP monitor to know. Whilst it is understandable that Mr Chikane did not want to judge the case on the basis of information contained in a illegally obtained document; still he should at least have asked for more time to verify whether the report was right.
Mr Chikane and the KP must surely understand that Zimbabwe is a police state in which the only “legal” source of information is the State itself. No journalists, human rights activists, not even the nation’s parliamentarians have been allowed into Marange. If Zimbabwe was a normal open and democratic nation, there will be no need for KP monitors!
The arrest of Farai Maguwu on allegations that he gave the KP monitor information the State did not want the monitor to know confirms Zimbabwe is a Police State. What more are the Zimbabwe authorities doing in Marange, away from all the media coverage, one has to ask?
It would be down right irresponsible for the KP to allow Zimbabwe’s repressive regime to trade in diamonds when a cloud of suspension hangs over it’s dealings.
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