“What would CCC and ordinary Zimbabweans accomplish by boycotting the 2023 elections, especially when the regime can call upon Mwonzora and company to participate to give the regime legitimacy?
The Zanu PF government will never resign because Chamisa did not participate in the elections!” some one argued.
This is a good question.
The short answer is, if you know the electoral process is so flawed that getting 73% of the votes, as Tsvangirai and his MDC friends did in March 2008, is not good enough to win power and know that by participating you are only giving the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy the only rational option is boycott. Let those foolish enough to give Zanu PF legitimacy do so, NOT you!
The long answer entail explaining why the opposition have repeatedly failed to do the rational thing and boycott the elections.
The 2008 elections were a water shed in, one, showing Zanu PF’s carte blanche power to rig elections but most important of all, two, in showing the party would not get away with the rigging. Both AU and SADC, for the first time in Zimbabwe’s history, refused to rubber stamp another Zanu PF rigged election. Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF were really shocked!
Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF were told the Zanu PF government they had formed was illegitimate. They were forced to sign the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA), agreeing to the country’s need to implement a raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the de facto one party dictatorship, Mugabe’s life time’s work! A Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed and its primary task was to implement the reforms.
Mugabe managed to bribe Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends, the dictator’s GNU partners, with the trappings of high office; the very generous salaries and allowances, ministerial limos, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc., etc. And to show their appreciation MDC leaders throw the reforms out of the window.
“Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the gravy train good life, they will never rock the boat!) boasted the Zanu PF cronies when asked why MDC leaders were not implementing the reforms during the GNU.
Zanu PF emerged out of the 2008 to 2013 GNU with all it dictatorial powers untouched, thanks to MDC leaders being corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent.
Still Zanu PF was extra careful to never again be denied legitimacy by SADC or anyone else and so the party has ditched the one party state macho image and adopted the multi-party democracy facade. Zanu PF rigged the 2013 elections but was careful to let the opposition win some gravy train seats.
When Mnangagwa took over from Mugabe following the 2017 military coup, he has pushed the multi-party democracy image by calling his administration a Second Republic, a new democratic dispensation and promised and insist 2018 elections were free, fair and credible.
He has increased the benefits of winning the gravy train seats, last year he gave away the US$40 000 housing loan to MPs, which even Chamisa could not deny is a bribe. He also created the POLAD scheme to reward election losers.
Zanu PF before the 2008 GNU was an iron fist. Post 2008 GNU year Zanu PF was an iron fist in a velvet glove!
Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the 2023 elections by failing to produce a verified voters’ roll, by denying 3 million Zimbabwean in the diaspora or 37% of the potential electorate the vote, by using wanton violence to frog match rural voters to vote for the party, etc., etc. These are all serious, iron fist, matters to justify boycotting the election and denying Zanu PF political legitimacy.
Zanu PF is banking on the opposition participating in the elections regardless of the flaws, illegalities and wanton violence. The party knows the opposition leaders are greedy and breathtakingly incompetent, they have shown this to be so graphically during the GNU and the party knows there is no cure for greed or incompetence. And as long as the opposition participate is these flawed election in droves Zanu PF will alway have the velvet glove to hide the iron fist!
Zanu PF will be forced out of office if it failed to get political legitimacy after the 2023 elections, we know that will happen because it happened in 2008! The real challenge therefore is getting the opposition in significant numbers to boycott the elections, their greed is insatiable.
Chamisa et al are hell bent on participating in these flawed elections nothing, absolutely nothing, will to give up the 30 pieces of silver Zanu PF is dangling in their face. They know by participating they are giving Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuating the dictatorship and the tragic human suffering it has caused. They know all these things and they still participate because they care more about the 30 pieces of silver!
15 comments:
"I am not paid for by Zanu-PF or any foreign entity. I have come from a very comfortable lifestyle, a life where I could have just stayed in the shadows. I love the private sector because you can succeed and fail privately. For me to expose my family and myself this way was a personal decision. I do not think there is enough money that someone could pay me to do what I am doing and going through," Chapman told Ncube.
"My goal is to remove Zanu-PF. I want to make that extremely clear that they would not pay me to do that. They would not pay me to get anywhere near that realm. The other side of it is that there are individuals who are sanctioned by the United States inside the Zanu-PF government, and I don't think I will be smart enough to align myself there and participate in that election at the risk of also being put on the sanctions list," he said.
We should not be surprised at the hostility from Chamisa and company, they think the opposition is their turf and it is no holds barred in defend. The fact that MDC/CCC have failed to implement even one democratic reform, the most important task they were elected to do, in 23 years is irrelevant.
Indeed, CCC have given up the fight for reforms and free elections and are now participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for a share of the spoils of power. They are nothing more than jackals at a lion kill, contend with the scraps.
One has to question Chapman’s claim “to remove Zanu PF”? How does anyone expect to remove Zanu PF from power by participating in an election process so flawed and illegal there is no something as basic as a verified voters’ roll and MDC failed to remove Zanu PF even after garnering 73% of the votes.
The truth is Chapman is hell bent on participating in these flawed elections knowing fully well, as Chamisa and company do, Zanu PF is rigging and winning these elections and by participating he i giving legitimacy to the regime. Like Chamisa he is after the few gravy train seats on offer as bait. The jackals are fighting over the scraps!
The only thing in common Richard Chapman has with former US President Barack Obama is that they are both of mixed race. Whilst the later has proven he is wise, the former is no wiser that a village idiot! Call Chapman Obama of Zimbabwe is therefore a flattery to Chapman but an insult to former USA President, stop it!
@ Chibvupe
In SA the vote still counts not so in Zimbabwe. The fight in Zimbabwe is for reforms and free and fair elections to pretend an election in which there is no verified voters' roll and getting 73% of the votes is not good enough to win is inanity. To believe Chamisa's winning in rigged elections nonsense after 43 years of rigged elections is unforgivable!
The false narrative here i that the people of Zimbabwe voted for Mnangagwa in 2018, they did not. He rigged the election and is rigging the 2023 election in similar fashion!
@ TG
You are waffling.. we voted enmasse for ED
Sure thing and you are doing the same this year! A few weeks ago we all saw the video of rural voters bused in from Domboshava, Goromonzi, etc. registering to vote in Harare. Come voting day they will vote in their rural constituency then bused into Harare to vote.
When you are blatantly rigging the elections, you don’t have the luxury of producing such things a verified voters’ roll. ZEC did not produce a verified voters’ roll in 2018 and is not produce one this year!
Zanu PF is rigging 2023 elections. Chamisa and company are participating for the few gravy train seats on offer as bait. The real surprise is we have so many VIs foolish enough to believe Chamisa’s nonsense of winning in rigged elections, to hide his greed, even after 43 years of rigged elections.
@ Godfrey
Zanu PF is rigging 2023 elections and with the opposition losing political credibility Mnangagwa must know political legitimacy is not a given this time! Watch this space!
@ Chickenbreast
Let bye gones be bye gones, ayo ndiwo anonzi Matakadya kare haanyararidzi vana. That one was Tsvangirai completely different from Chamisa.This time its unrigeble dzosera vanhu mari yavo yawikapiwa yechioko muhomwe kuti udiscourage vanhu. You will be in hot soup Wilbert, give them their dues before you are in trouble.
Zanu PF is rigging the 2023 elections just as readily as it rigged the 2008 elections because not even one token democratic reform was implemented to take away the regime’s carte blanche powers to rig elections.
Chamisa and company know that Zanu PF is rigging the election and are participating to give Zanu PF legitimacy and get the few gravy train seats as their reward. They sold out by failing to implement even one reform in 23 years and they are selling out now by participating in flawed elections for 30 pieces of silver!
The ordinary people have nothing to gain from perpetuating the dictatorship and their suffering. It is only VIs like you who conned into participating in the flawed election because you believe Chamisa’s idiotic lies of winning in rigged elections even after 43 years of rigged elections! What an idiot!
THE European Union (EU) says it is ready to send an observer mission to help Zimbabwe hold free, fair and inclusive elections this year, which will guarantee the bloc's increased economic development support to the country.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold general elections in August this year although President Emmerson Mnangagwa is yet to proclaim the election dates.
Speaking to NewsDay after the second structured dialogue platform meeting on debt arrears clearance in Harare, EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann said if the country holds credible elections, there would be increased appetite for the bloc to assist it to clear its debt currently standing at US$17,6 billion.
Of course, Zanu PF would love to have the debt arrears cleared and to see some the country’s economy recovering. The party knows only too well that it will never win free, fair and credible elections and so the EU offer of hold free election and we will clear the arrears is one the party will never ever take! Just forget it!
Controversial self- imposed opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa released a list of candidates that will represent his Yellow Project in 2023. The list is as follows:
-Hre Central, Gladys Hlatshwayo
-Hre North, Allan Markham
-Hre South, Jacob Ngarivhume
-Hre West , Joanna Mamombe
-Kuwdzna, Johnson Matambo
-Hre East, Fadzayi Mahere
-DZ, Mushoriwa
-Kwdzan East, Charlton Hwende
-WarrenPk, Shakespeare Hamauswa
-Southerton, Anna Banda
-Mufakose, Susan Matsunga
-Budiriro, Lovejoy Chitengu
-GV North, Tungamirai Madzokere
GV South, Gladmore Hakata
-Glennorah, Wellington Chikombo
-Mbare, Starman Chamisa
-Hatfield, Revai Nyamuronga
-Epworth, Earthrage Kureva
-Mabvuku, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi
-Sunningdale, Anna Mazhingaidzo
-Chit South, Maxwell Mavhunga
-Chit North, Fambai Ngirandi
-Zeng West, Lovemore Maiko
-St Mary's, Dickson Tarusenga
-Zeng East, Alexio Musundire
However, some senior CCC members are promising fireworks and have so far identified a line-up which they are calling the The Citizens' Choice which is made up of the following;
-Hre Central, Murisi Zwizwai
-Hre North, Agency Gumbo
-Hre South, Tendai Katsaira
-Hre West, Vongai Tome
-Kuwadzana, Shepherd Sithole
-Kwdzan East, Zivai Kautsa
-Warren PK, Paddington Japajapa
-Southerton, Edward Gudhe
-Mufakose , Anna Tiribhoyi
-Budiriro, Keith Charumbira
-Glenview North, Tungamirai Madzokere
-Glenview South, Last Maengahama
-Glennorah, Hebert Gomba
-Mbare, Anthony Shingadeya
-Hatfield, Gilbert Kagodera
-Epworth, Zivai Mhetu
-Mabvuku, Barnabas Ndira
-Sunningdale, Hammy Madzingira
-Chit South, Goodrich Chimbaira
-Chit North, Tryvine Musokero
-Zengeza West, Job Sikhala
-St Mary's, Stephen Chuma
-Zengeza East, Job (Jnr) Sikhala.
Political analyst, Prof Stephen Chan, once highlighted that what will destroy the Zimbabwean opposition is lack of direction, maturity and solid structures on the ground. Chan said Chamisa is operating without advisors and makes decisions out of the blue.
Some CCC supporters have indicated that they respected Chamisa as their leader , but imposition of candidates will be faced with serious resistance....."it's a like masturbating on democratic principles", according to Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya.
Zanu PF is rigging these elections; there is no verified voters roll, 3m in the diaspora were denied the vote or 37% of the potential voters, violence and vote buy is rampant, etc., etc. But clearly there is nothing Zanu PF can do to stop the opposition participating in these flawed elections. Why is this so?
Answer: Chamisa and company do not care that the elections are rigged and the Zanu PF corrupt and tyranny continues with all the tragic human suffering that entails. They have given up the fight for reforms and good governance. All they are after now are the few gravy train seats Zanu PF gives away to entice the opposition to participate no matter how flawed and illegal the process get.
The tragedy is the ordinary Zimbabweans who continue to freely participate in this madness conned by CCC into believing the oxymoronic nonsense of winning rigged elections, to hide their greed. How anyone would believe such foolishness especially after 43 years of rigged elections and in this day and age, beggars belief! But clearly are many morons out there who do and the nation is paying dearly for it!
@ Godfrey
“GOOD NEWS: EU ready to deploy observers to help Zimbabwe hold free and fair elections.”
The EU produced a report after the 2018 election with 23 recommendation to make sure the next elections are free and fair. Both Zanu PF and MDC/CCC have ignored the report and they are going ahead with these elections although not even one of the recommendations have seen the light of day. Both parties do not care that the elections are rigged as long as they win power!
The big surprise is that there ordinary Zimbabweans out there who continue to participate in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy because they conned by CCC into believing the winning in rigged elections bull, even after 43 years of rigged elections. How stupid is that!!!!!
There is very little the EU, SADC or anyone can do to help us since we are clearly too stupid to even have the common sense to know what constitute free and fair elections.
@ Nhamo
“Elections are rigged years before. By the time elections are held everything is done and dusted.”
The EU know these elections are a farce, not even one of their 23 recommendations from the last elections have seen the light of day! Not even one! And yet the opposition is as keen as mustard to participating in the elections regardless!
The question these people should be asking themselves is: "What has MDC/CCC accomplished by participating in rigged elections especially after 43 years of rigged elections?"
Both Zanu PF and CCC do not believe in the rule of law, or more specifically in the right of every citizen to a meaningful say in the governance of the country. They are not bothered Zimbabweans continued to be denied the free vote; Zanu PF by rigging and CCC by not even bothering to implement even one reform when they had the golden chance to do so during the GNU. They clearly do not appreciate that the rule of law and free elections are a must have for democracy and good governance.
The tragedy is many Zimbabweans out there do not appreciate that the rule of law and free elections are a must have for democracy and good governance too. They are the ones participating in these flawed elections chasing the idiotic goal of winning rigged elections. In this day and age who would believe such insanity!
@ TG
“Zim is a sovereign nation .. go to hell with your EU.”
So you think Zimbabwe will lose her sovereignty if the country held free, fair and credible elections? Your stupidity is the stuff of legends!
In a Twitter post motivated by the recent Nigerian elections in which Peter Obi, the main antagonist to President-elect Bola Tinubu contested without structures, Moyo warned voters to be wary of politicians who keep their plans in confidence.
"If a politician who wants your vote tells you that "everything is gonna be alright" while they're keeping their plan or structures close to their chest as a 'secret strategy', beware; you are dealing with a clueless and desperate voodoo politician who is out of his or her depth!," said Prof Moyo.
Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess after 43 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF rule. Zanu PF, according to Professor Jonathan Moyo had “plans and structures” galore but that clearly did not make do anything to stop the rot! MDC did have a plan and structures during Morgan Tsvangirai days but that did not stop the corruption and incompetence resulting in the party failing to implement even one reform in five years of the GNU.
Conclusion: Professor Jonathan Moyo is making a mountain out of a mole hill of CCC’s failure to produce a plan and a structure and the opposite i equally true of Zanu PF paper tiger plan and structure.
What we need is a political system that is robust enough to force politician to produce plans and to hold them to democratic account. The present political system is so ineffective having a plan or not having one makes no difference!
@ Chibvupe
Very interesting. Two take-home points:
corruption is not only about the looted resources the other even more important issue is how corrupt reward the wrong people and in doing so force those with talent to leave.
We should not be consume with power cuts, collapsed education and health, pot holes, etc. these are all symptoms of our problem of bad governance and not the causes. The root cause of bad governance is us the people who have failed to hold those in power to democratic account. If SA is a joke then we the people are the punch line!
I totally agree, “if you know the electoral process is so flawed that getting 73% of the votes is not good enough to win power and that participating only gives vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy, then the only rational alternative is to BOYCOTT the elections.” The reason why many people do not consider boycotting a viable option much less the only option is deep rooted.
Whilst you or anyone who respect the rule of law consider elections as a contest governed by rules which, if violated, render the contest utterly meaningless. If getting 73% of the vote and yet fail to win does not render elections utterly meaningless then what else will!
However if you don’t know what even the most basic requirements for free and fair elections are the failure to secure victory even after getting 73% of the vote means nothing. 73% is just a figure changing it 47% did not up set many of these because these are just figure!
Indeed, in the 2018 elections Nelson Chamisa was very passionate that he should be declared the winner on the basis of his claim to have garnered 2.6 million votes although he did not have all the V11 forms to support his claim. He and his team were dismissive of those demanding even such basics as verified voters’ roll, V11 forms, etc.
Chamisa and company would not care how flawed and illegal the election process got as long as he is declared the winner. This proves why MDC leaders did not implement even one reform during the GNU to restore rule of law, even now with the benefit of hindsight.
Chamisa, just like Mnangagwa, and just like Tsvangirai and Mugabe before, them will never implement democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections because none of them believe in the right of every citizen to a meaningful vote as the basis for democracy and good governance.
Indeed, Zimbabwe’s political leaders, right across the political divide, have a deep rooted mistrust of the ordinary peoples and the very idea of these people judging them in a free, fair and credible election is simply unthinkable! No political party has embraced free and fair election be it at party or national level.
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