“Kamoto kamberevere ndikokano pisa matanda mberi!” (It is the unattended small fire that will burn down the forest!) Shona elders advise.
There is no denying that Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess whose origins can be traced back to Zanu PF decision to impose a de facto one-party cum one-man dictatorship.
We, the people of Zimbabwe have seen it all coming with the Zanu PF regime systematically undermining the country’s multi-party Lancaster House constitution by disregarding the law. Removing independent Judges and appointing party loyalist. Promoting ethical journalists like Geoffrey Nyarota to dead end jobs because they dared to inform as contrast to misinform the public. There is no Zimbabwean out there who was not aware that Zanu PF has always rigging the elections. And yet we have all done nothing to stop Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs ride roughshod over our freedoms, human rights, hopes and dreams. Nothing!
SADC leaders had their best chance to rein in the runaway Zanu PF dictatorship following the rigged elections of 2008. SADC forced President Mugabe to agree to the implementation of a raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the de facto one-party dictatorship. SADC was the guarantor of the agreement.
Sadly, not even one reform was implemented in the five years of the GNU. SADC leaders wanted the 2013 elections postponed so the reforms can be implemented. “If you take part in next month’s elections, you will lose; the elections are done!” they warned Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends.
President Mugabe threatened to take Zimbabwe out of SADC if the regional grouping insisted in postponing the elections.
As we know the elections went ahead and, as expected, Zanu PF blatantly rig the elections. SADC leaders accepted the result “to punish MDC for ignoring their warning” many people have said. By the same token one can say SADC leaders accepted last November’s military coup that booted Mugabe out of office “to punish the tyrant for his arrogant refusal to postpone the July 2013 elections!”
“South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has condemned the bomb blast which left at least 41 people injured in Zimbabwe, saying that the bloc will evaluate the incident and “take appropriate steps”, reported Zimeye.
“According to a statement issued by the Department of International relations and Co-operation, Ramaphosa said that acts of violence and criminality had no place in the democratic process of any sovereign state within the SADC region.”
“Democratic process,” what democratic process?
President Mnangagwa, just like his boss Robert Mugabe before him, has stubbornly refused to implement even one of the raft of democratic reforms agreed with SADC in 2008. Indeed he has even continued to contemptuous dismiss those calling for reforms (no doubt aware of the SADC position on the matter) as barking dogs.
“Zanu PF ichatonga! Igotonga! Imi muchingo hukura! Nokuhukura!” (Zanu PF will rule! And rule! Whilst you (calling for reforms) bark! And bark!) was Mnangagwa’s favourite rallying call before the November coup. He has repeated this in public on two separate occasions since the coup.
With not even one reform in place since the rigged July 2013 elections, no free public media, no verified voters’ roll, Zanu PF robbing the nation blind to bankroll its varied and very expensive vote rigging schemes, etc., etc. Zanu PF is once again blatantly rigging this year’s elections. “These elections are done!” as SADC leaders would aptly put it.
So, if the SADC leaders KNOW “these elections are done” then what “democratic process” is President Cyril Ramaphosa wittering about?
SADC has earned a reputation of doing nothing paralysed by weak and indecisive leadership and, even when it has been forced to act, of taking the feeblest measures. No Zimbabwean with half a brain will be holding their breath to see what these “appropriate steps” President Ramaphosa is threatening will be.
SADC leaders must look President Mnangagwa in the eyes and tell him SADC will only help him and Zimbabwe end the economic meltdown, the political violence, coup and now the bomb blast if country implements the democratic reforms and end this curse of rigged elections.
The economic chaos, the coup and now the bomb blast, these are warning shot to SADC leaders themselves that political crisis in Zimbabwe is burning out of control. Zimbabwe is on fire and, if the SADC leaders continue to twiddle the thumbs and do nothing, the chaos in Zimbabwe can spread and engulf the whole region.
SADC leaders must remind President Mnangagwa and his junta that if they fail to deliver on the promise to hold free, fair and credible elections SADC will finally take the appropriate action this time – declare the flawed and illegal elections null and void!
11 comments:
Many people had expected a radicle change of direction in SA when President Cyril Ramaphosa took over from former SA President Jacob Zuma after decades of mediocre leadership. But other than putting the Gupta family out of business of looting and corruption, it is very hard to see what has changed. Zapiro, SA's world renowned cartoonist, has depicted President Ramaphosa as Rama Panther the pathetic caricature of Black Panther movie main character.
"According to a statement issued by the Department of International relations and Co-operation, Ramaphosa said that acts of violence and criminality had no place in the democratic process of any sovereign state within the SADC region."
Only Rama Panther would be so foolish as to believe what is going on in Zimbabwe is a democratic process!
SADC leaders had already made the decision that it is impossible to have free, fair and credible elections without first implementing the reforms. The decision is there, a matter of public record. Along comes action-man Rama Panther with his toy guns firing from the hip and wants to undo SADC leaders' 2013 decision. To say the people of Zimbabwe are disappointed with this blundering idiot is an understatement!
Ever since the departure of President Nelson Mandela SA has had the great misfortune of having one idiot for President after another. The whole SADC region has suffered with SA since it is the regional grouping's big brother and Zimbabwe has suffered worst of all since we have had the great misfortune of having corrupt, incompetent and murderous Zanu PF thugs and tyrants for the last 38 years supported by the equally corrupt and incompetent MDC village idiots!
I agree 100%, nothing of any substance with ever come out of wittering Rama Panther! Nothing!
@ Tichah
I agree with you there 100%, it is self-defeating to participate in elections knowing fully well the process is flawed. No one, especially from the international community is blind not to see that these elections are being rigged. SADC leaders have already said do not participate in the elections without the reforms. The only reason one would disregard all the evidence the elections are flawed and still participating is because one believes they can win rigged elections. If one fails to win one cannot complain the elections were rigged since that was understood.
Zimbabweans must make it clear that these elections are flawed, and they have no intention of gambling with the nation's destiny by taking part in these flawed elections on the off chance of winning rigged elections. They must make is clear what they want is these elections declared null and void NOW and not have to wait for voting day.
Make up your mind Zhuwao, are these elections free, fair and credible?
If they are not then are you suggesting MDC will win rigged elections?
I do not expect you to know how Zanu PF has been rigging elections in the past but still I expect you to know that Zanu PF was rigging elections. Now you want us to believe the Zanu PF will rig the vote but go on to lose the elections! You really are naive and stupid!
@ Bill
Zanu PF is rigging the vote and you think Zanu PF will rig the vote and go on to lose the elections? In 2008 Tsvangirai got 73% of the vote but the regime managed to whittle it down to 47% to force the run-off. The regime has since stepped up its vote rigging so that Zanu PF gets 60% plus on the first vote.
By participating in these flawed elections you will not change the result but rather give the process credibility.
Which part of Zanu PF rigs elections do you not understand?
"Let me now spill the beans," said Chamisa
"If you try to stop me you will not succeed. So, I say to the Electoral Commission we will not accept. You Chigumba let me tell you must listen to the people of Zimbabwe the children of this nation want fairness. The first thing she did was the registering of Thokozani Khupe against the law. That was wrong."
To say that was disappointing is an understatement!
The people of Zimbabwe want free, fair and credible elections and it is none other than Chamisa and his MDC friends who are helping Zanu PF rig these elections. First MDC failed to implement even one reforms out of the raft of reforms agreed with SADC at the onset of the 2008 GNU.
SADC have advised that Zimbabwe should not go into the elections without first implementing the reforms and it is the MDC leaders who would not listen and continue to take part in these flawed elections, out of selfish greed as David Coltart, one MDC leader has admitted.
"The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn't now do the obvious - withdraw from the (2013) elections," explained Senator Coltart.
"The 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."
Three of the main MDC factions have since formed the MDC Alliance before this year's elections and still they would not boycott the elections for the same reason as before - greed.
If any EU country was to hold elections with no free public media, no verified voters' roll, with the ruling party robbing there nation blind to bankroll its vote rigging schemes, etc. the EU will not only condemn such elections without even bothering to let the flawed election process run its full course but the said country will be booted out of the EU. There is no doubt that some EY countries will be more interested in their selfish economic interests and will want the bar for free and fair elections lowered to help Zanu PF clear it. How low are they prepared to go, is the question?
The bomb blast last Saturday has underlined once again the need for Zimbabwe to hold free, fair and credible elections as the only way to end the political instability in the country. As George Charamba, President Mnangagwa's spokesman rightly admitted, "there are unresolved leadership issues in Zimbabwe" and they manifest in the form of endless infighting within political parties and at national level.
It is almost certain that Saturday' bomb was planted by G40 supporter or a disgruntled Lacoste supporter proof that Zanu PF is a party of thugs and the dog-eat-dog fighting is not over. If the British had thrown their lot with Mnangagwa thinking Zanu PF infighting was over they are now being forced to review their position. The British were caught on the wrong side of history during the Gukurahundi massacre, they would not want that to happen again!
@ Muyeye
I agreed with you on every other point until you got to the British helping Zimbabwe holding free and fair elections.
"Only naive people do not know that any democratic country's elections are observed by other countries, hence my decision to hand in the petition to England - one of the countries that, if their mind-set about Zimbabwe change, can influence the rest of the world that Zimbabwe is under a fresh and spotless era in as far as democracy is concerned," you said.
"I just do not want the rigging. The better candidates have been robbed of victory in Zimbabwe elections over the past two decades and England saw this and castigated Mugabe for it. The same England can call for a fair election and that is why the petition went to 10 Downing Street."
The British mind-set post-November coup is "that Zimbabwe is under a fresh and spotless era in as far as democracy is concerned," as you say.
The British have setup their stall, they have accepted that President Mnangagwa and his junta have refused to implement any democratic reforms and therefore accept these elections will not be free, fair and credible. What the British are doing is asking everyone else to accept there will be no free and fair elections as a fait accompli and have the Zanu PF regime let off the hook as long as the regime promise to hold free and fair elections in future!
After 38 years of being denied the right to free, fair and credible elections it is nonsensical that we are to be short changed once again!
Zimbabwe is in this economic mess and political chaos precisely because the nation has been stuck with this corrupt Zanu PF dictatorship and we have a golden opportunity to end this once and once for all. Instead of standing firm and get this sorted, we are being talked to give up our right in exchange for a promise that we will have the right in future. Only a first-class idiot would accept such folly!
With all due respect you meant well but are clearly ill-advised! The real tragedy for Zimbabwe is we have more than our fair share of such ill-advised individuals (if the truth be told, many of them only pretend to be stupid when in reality they are on Zanu PF's payroll).
"It shows you that things can turn ugly, it has been ugly in the past and over the past 38 years we have had disputed elections, violent elections, state-sponsored violence and we are likely to see that ugly feature rearing its head once more.
"Zimbabweans are vulnerable … the electorate is vulnerable, political players like myself are vulnerable. I have scars on account of political violence in the past, so it's something we have budgeted for," said Chamisa in an interview with Al Jazeera.
True but history will always remember that MDC had the golden opportunities during the GNU to implement the democratic reforms which would have taken away Zanu PF's tyrannical powers and stop this madness. MDC leaders failed to get even one reform implemented in five years! The only reason MDC still continue to have any followers is because the Zimbabwe electorate remains one of the most brainwashed people on earth.
One of the most urgent reforms has to be to free the media and have freedom of expression!
On the issue of the disturbance which rocked the launch of the multi-party liaison committee, the ZEC chief said the coming together of the political parties is by consensus and if there is no agreement, the committee can be disbanded.
The nation does not need this Multi-party liaison committee, it is get another gimmick to cover up for the failure to implement the democratic reforms to restore the Police, ZEC and other statutory state institutions' power to investigate, arrest and charge those responsible for politically motivated crimes and violence. What is the good of having a committee that is powerless to do anything? Even their reports are not worth the paper they are written on as the accused will always deny everything!
This is get a feeble excuse for making sure the Police and all the other bodies are kept out of the politics. With no Police report the regime can deny everything and claim the elections were free and fair with confidence.
"I don't know your name. I don't know who you are or what your motives are, but I reject your attempt to harm democracy and our new Zimbabwe with your violence," you say.
"I am an MDC supporter, but when you attempted to assassinate President Mnangagwa at a peaceful rally, you personally attacked me and all Zimbabwe citizens."
When President Mnangagwa and his coup plotters stage the coup last November did you condemn them for the treasonous act?
When Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs refused to listen to SADC leaders' call to postpone the 2013 elections so the reforms necessary for free and fair elections can be implemented and went on to rig the said elections; did you condemn the tyrant and his thugs?
If the answer to any of the above is no then shut the hell up because you have no clue what you are talking about.
Last November's coup was necessary because that was the only way to force Mugabe out of office after 37 years of rigged elections.
President Mnangagwa and his junta have refused to implement even one reforms and so the only way to remove them from office is by another coup, bomb or violent street protest. President Mnangagwa and his junta must be condemned for dragging the nation into this mess where the only way to achieve meaningful political change is by using violence.
The failure to hold free and fair elections is the elephant in the room, the coup, bombs, violent street protests are nothing more than the ticks, fleas, etc. on the elephant's back. Hold free and fair elections and there will be no need for coups, bombs, etc.; get rid of the elephant and the tick, flea infestation will go away too.
"So, I say to those behind the attack on President Mnangagwa at the White City Stadium on Saturday that your violence will not win. Your hatred will not destroy our nascent democracy or our new Zimbabwe," you say.
Zanu PF is blatantly rigging these elections, there is no free public media, no verified voters' roll, Zanu PF is robbing the nation blind to bankroll its vote rigging schemes, etc. So where is this "nascent democracy or new Zimbabwe" you are wittering about? Tyrants tape into the foolishness of people like you to help them build tyrannical dictatorship cleverly disguised as a democracy.
There is nothing lawful about throwing a bomb at someone. There is nothing lawful about staging a military coup. The two events are both totally unacceptable in any civilised country and must be condemn. What I refuse to accept is why the one event has been roundly condemned whilst the other has been condoned with a blink and nod!
President Mnangagwa and his coup plotters justified the coup on the grounds that that was the only way they were going to get Robert Mugabe to give up power after 37 years in power. No one in their right mind can dispute the fact that Mugabe's long stay as leader of both his party Zanu PF and of the country was because he rigged the elections. It is worth pointing out straight away that it was none other than Emerson Mnangagwa and his coup plotters who had done the vote rigging and politically motivated acts of violence including mass murders to ensure Mugabe and Zanu PF remained in power.
So last November's coup was not because the coup plotters were against Mugabe's vote rigging and tyrannical rule; the coup was to stop Mugabe booting Mnangagwa and company out of power to give it to his wife and her G40 friends. Operation restore legacy, as the coup plotters called their treasonous act was about making sure the Zanu PF dictatorship was restored back in their hands.
By stubbornly refusing to implement meaningful democratic reforms designed to end Zanu PF dictatorial power to remain in power against the democratic wishes of the people Mnangagwa has made it clear that Zimbabwe is still stuck with a corrupt and tyrannical regime. President Mnangagwa promised to hold free, fair and credible elections but it is clear as day that he is rigging these elections as blatantly as he has rigged past elections for Mugabe.
If the coup was justified because it was the only way to regime the Mugabe led Zanu PF dictatorship. By the same token the Saturday bomb can be equally justified as the only way to remove this Mnangagwa led Zanu PF dictatorship.
To condemn the bombers but condone, with a wink and nod the blatant vote rigging that is going on is totally unacceptable.
Many people would rather condone the bombers if they helped end the Zanu PF dictatorship just as they condoned last November's coup because the dictatorship is causing heart-breaking human suffering and unnecessary loss of life in one minute of everyday for everyday the dictatorship is allowed to exist than the once in 37 years coup or one bomb in 34 weeks of Mnangagwa's reign. Just because the hundreds of poor people are dying everyday quietly in their homes of poverty induced starvation or disease does not mean their lives is worthless compared to the two killed in the bomb blast.
By refusing to implement the reforms and thus restore the people's power to effect peaceful democratic change President Mnangagwa has condemned this nation to another coup, bomb or some such violent way as the only way to effect regime change. President Mnangagwa does not deserve our sympathy in this matter but our condemnation! It is tragic that innocent people are often caught up in these violent acts of barbarism but it is tyrants like Mugabe and Mnangagwa who impose these tragedies on the nation by closing the door to peaceful change!
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