“You should be ashamed of yourself! How can you keep attacking
Nelson Chamisa and his CCC party? They are the only hope for Zimbabwe!” came
the caustic attack.
How naïve!
In my article, I had said Zanu PF was rigging the 2023
elections and Chamisa and company knew the election was flawed, knew that by
participating they were giving Zanu PF legitimacy and were participating
regardless out of greed.
When I reminded the attacker that what I said was based on what
David Coltart’s confession, admitting the same things. “David Coltart was wrong
and I should not be quoting him!” Came the reply.
Tendai Biti is one other senior MDC/CCC leader who has
admitted on the futility of participating in these elections without first
implementing the reforms. “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,” 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.”
Indeed, SADC leaders wanted the 2013 Elections postponed to
allow time for the implementation of the reforms and warned Morgan Tsvangirai
and his MDC friend of the folly of participating with no reforms.
“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the
elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the
SADC summit. I went there,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Director of SAPES, told Journalist
Violet Gonda.
“I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of
the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform
at least electoral laws.
“And after that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of
them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the
absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there
outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections
next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”
Yeah! But why blame MDC/CCC leaders alone for the GNU’s
failure to implement any reforms, the critic argued. After all, Zanu PF and MDC
were partners in the GNU.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to election
MDC/CCC leaders into power on the understanding they would implement the needed
democratic changes to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, as the party’s name implied.
The people did not risk all to elect MDC leaders to implement reforms only to
expect Zanu PF to perform the task.
Nelson Chamisa and his MDC/CCC friends have not only failed
to implement even one meaningful democratic reform in 23 years, 5 of which in
the GNU, but worst of all they are participating in flawed elections to
perpetuate the dictatorship out of selfish greed. It is the duty of every rational
person out there to hold MDC/CCC leaders to account for selling out.
Besides, those who have failed to condemn MDC/CCC leaders
for and continued to give them the political support are just as guilty of
giving Zanu PF legitimacy and perpetuating the dictatorship. Whilst Chamisa and
company are participating out of greed they are doing so out of ignorance, in this
case, born out of the stubborn refusal to face facts.
Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the 2023 elections. The party
has, once again, failed to produce a verified voters’ roll, denied 3 million in
the diaspora the vote, is squandering US$ billions bribing officials to rig the
elections and bribing the opposition to participate no matter flawed the
process, etc., etc.
We, the ordinary citizens cannot stop the elections going
ahead, not this late in the process. What we can do is make sure that Zanu PF,
CCC and SADC (whose endorsing and granting legitimacy is key) know we condemn
this election process because it is flawed, condemn CCC for participating out
of greed and demand that Zanu PF is deny political legitimacy.
We, the people, can agree to disagree on many things but
cannot afford to disagree of this fundamental point that Zanu PF is rigging
these 2023 elections and that participating is to give Zanu PF legitimacy is
insane! With the nation in serious economic and political trouble precisely
because for 43 years we have failed to deal with this curse of rigged elections
and bad governance; are we going to fail ourselves yet again.
Coltart and his MDC/CCC friends have betrayed the nation in
failing to implement the democratic reforms and in refraining from
participating in the flawed elections until reforms were implemented. Greed got
the better of them and rules the roost. Still, his confession that boycotting
the flawed elections until reforms are implemented was spot on in 2013 and is
still spot on now.
"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," confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues
50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
"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.”
2023, JUST LIKE 2013 AND 2018, ELECTION PROCESS IS SO FLAWED
PARTICIPATING WILL ONLY GIVE ZANU PF LEGITIMACY. DOING SO, IS INSANE!
The writing is on the wall and will be shouted out from the
rooftops. So that this time not even the mentally challenged will say they did
not know Zanu PF is rigging the 2023 elections and CCC is participating out of
greed.
17 comments:
It is tragic that most blacks still have no title deeds to the house they live in and Zanu PF is doing this for selfish political reason 43 years after independence. When will this madness stop?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOGj7XGw-1M
@ Chapman
“Good Early Morning Team, I hear we have rumours circulating and catching some attention that I’ve withdrawn from the Presidential race and it’s COMPLETELY NOT true.
We are contesting heavily throughout the country, I am contesting and I’m excited about strength and endurance of our team.
I’ll be debunking these very, very soon.
The key issue is that we are infiltrated and people claiming to be close to me start these false attacks or rumours.
Please be vigilant of these characters, they are among us and we are aware. Please don’t be deterred as this is common practice but easy to detect and treat.
Have a blessed Sunday, take time for family and rest. Tomorrow starts a brilliant day and a brilliant week.
Onward ~ Forward. A great fight to free Zimbabwe and her people is the fight we chose.
We are in this bigger and stronger.
Stay blessed ~ Robert Chapman.”
For the record, I totally subscribe to the notion that we MUST agree to disagree in everything expect in matters of principle, especially when the cost of the consequence of our disregard of the said principle are paid by the innocent.
Zanu PF is rigging these elections, the party is bribing the opposition with offers of a few gravy train seats plus the POLAD freebies to participate to give the process the modicum of credibility and legitimacy. This will extend the Zanu PF dictatorship and thus perpetuate the suffering of the ordinary Zimbabweans. This is a matter of fact and not opinion. Of course, this is insane and after 43 years of this insanity, this must be stopped.
No one can stop you participating in these flawed and illegal elections, without even something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, where Zanu PF will be frogmarching rural voters, etc. We both know you will be doing so out of greed and that is something that must be condemn here, now and always!
The one who makes a documentary is largely persuaded by a zeal to bring out an end game of his desire. Most documentaries have a desired effect of the producer not in any way helping the affected nations.
Documentaries are supposed to be an in-depth and informative resource which are a perfect platform to create dialogue. They should serve as powerful tools that bring important topics to the table in a captivating way that also sparks conversation, and sometimes even social movements.
It travesty of reason to have documentary which is one sided hell bent to cause dissent in a nation and bringing out the desired effects of the producer regardless of what will happen to some individuals. That reduces nations and its people to be collateral damage.
In today’s “post-truth” world, educating ourselves about important issues and finding varied and reliable information sources is as critical as ever. Recent events across the globe coupled with how we obtain, share, and replicate news of these events demands we step up and seek out quality sources of information about our world and what is happening in it. We expect big stations to get properly qualified researchers and not pocket journalists.
This is an example of a seasoned propagandists who knows the game is up and yet fights on in a desperate effort to still remain relevant. The Al Jazeera Gold Mafia documentary has revealed the chaos, greed and waste in Zimbabwe today and how the rot has gone up to the very top. And yet Mavaza in accusing Al Jazeera of failing to produce “an in-depth and informative resource which are a perfect platform to create dialogue”! The whole world is talking about Zimbabwe as the epicentre of corruption and waste.
Mavaza and his fellow apologists’ counter narrative that Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is caused by sanctions imposed by the West has been thrown out of the window. Everyone knows that is just a lie!
The truth will always prevail not matter how hard you try to hide it under layers of lies and propaganda. “Rinemanyanga hariputirwi!” as one would say in Shona. Mavaza, now that the world knows about corrupt in Zimbabwe, you can try to sell your hen’s teeth lies of sanctions, good luck with that!
THE Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in Matabeleland South province says its candidate selection process is progressing well with party members content with the processes.
The opposition party's provincial chairman Solani Moyo told Southern Eye that most wards have since been filled.
"We are satisfied that the process is going well and what is pleasing is that citizens were able to nominate at least one candidate each to represent them in the National Assembly. At the local council level, there were few places where there was a tie or three candidates nominated," he said.
Nelson Chamisa and friends are taking full advantage of the people’s ignorance and desperation; the people are desperate to see an end to their economic suffering but clearly have no clue how this will be achieved. They know that Zanu PF is using every dirty trick there is to win these elections, they do not know how the rigging can be stopped. Chamisa and company are taking full advantage of the people’s ignorance.
Chamisa and company are promising the people CCC will “win big” in 2023 and the party will deliver the economic and political changes the people are dying for. He is lying. He knows that without first implementing the reforms Zanu PF is set to rig and win these elections.
Chamisa and company had the golden opportunity to get the democratic reforms implemented during the 2008 to 2013 GNU, they took their eyes off the ball and failed to get even one token reform implemented. They have since given up on reforms and free elections and settled for participating in the flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy in return for a few gravy train seats.
The people of Zimbabwe must open their eyes and see Chamisa and company for who they really are – corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent sell outs who are now helping Zanu PF get away with rigged elections and thus are perpetuating the dictatorship and the people’s suffering. After 43 years of rigged elections it is for the people themselves to realise this is insane and stop participating. As for Zanu PF and their CCC acolytes they will continue to hold these meaningless elections and promising change – a mirage insight but always out of reach!
If the people do not have the common sense to demand reforms and free elections then thy will be exploited. CCC are hell bent on participating in these flawed elections just to be Zimbabwe's main opposition party and get all the benefit that comes with it; they don't care they are selling out on the big picture of reforms, free elections and good governance.
Chamisa is nothing but the modern day Muzorewa, hell bent on participating in flawed elections for a few seats on the gravy train at the expense of the big national agenda of reforms, free elections and good governance. After 43 years of this greed and tragic human suffering it is high time we put an end to this insanity.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC/CCC to deliver change and not to keep Zanu PF in power for 30 pieces of silver!
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-229933.html
@ Madziva
The primary purpose of the 2008 to 2013 GNU was to implement the democratic reforms and restore the people's freedoms and rights including the right to free and fair elections. The fact that not even one reform was implemented was not the fault of the GNU itself but rather the corrupt and incompetent individuals appointed in the GNU.
We still need the reforms to be implemented and therefore it is nonsense to say we don't need another GNU.
If you went to hospital with an ailment and it was not cured, you do not say I will never go to a hospital ever again. You were not cured because the doctors were not up to the task. Find another doctor or you will continue to suffer and even die!
Zimbabwe is a failed state precisely because the country is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who are in power because they rig elections. Zimbabwe needs to implement the democratic reforms designed to cure the curse of rigged elections. A new GNU will give the nation the chance to implement the reforms. We just need to make sure that this time we have competent men and women to implement the reforms.
There are three things to be said here:
1) Chamisa and his MDC/CCC friends are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent, they have been on the political stage for 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU and yet have failed to implement even one meaningful democratic change. They are participating in these elections knowing fully well the process is flawed and illegal and Zanu PF is set to rig. They also know that their participation will give Zanu PF legitimacy. And yet they still participate because they also know the Zanu PF is giving away a few gravy train seats to entice the opposition – an enticement Chamisa and company have found irresistible.
2) The people are solidly behind Chamisa and CCC out of desperation and desperate people do desperate things. If the choice was between Mnangagwa and the donkey, people would vote for the donkey because they are really desperate to see the back of this Zanu PF dictatorship.
3) Zanu PF has retained all its carte blanche powers to rig elections and can exercise these powers knowing fully well that MDC/CCC will participate to give the process some modicum of credibility no matter how flawed and illegal the process gets. “I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how,” said Joseph Stalin, Russia dictator. Emmerson Mnangagwa has the added confidence of knowing Chamisa and company will participate in the elections no matter how flawed and illegal the process got and will even help him count!
@ Chris
“You are right. Chimwe nechimwe chine nguva yacho. We keep trying.”
You meaning you keep trying the same foolish thing of participating in elections so flawed there is not even something as basic as a verified voters’ roll and hope to win? That is the definition of insanity!
MDC/CCC leaders had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms and they sold out and continue to sell out by participating in flawed elections for the sake of 30 pieces of silver. And you do not even have the common sense to admit to yourself that this is not working and you are being taken for fools!
@ Chris
“Just don't follow Chamisa, do your own things zviri better than him.
It seems Chamisa makes you feel stressed, leave with his supporters alone. Mwonzora doing ma reforms through the courts, join him.”
You have always struggled to understand what democratic accountability and rule of law means.
We all have our individual freedoms and rights and in exercising these rights we must be mindful we do not deny other people their rights and freedoms. This is why we must be accountable for how we exercise and enjoy our freedoms and rights.
MDC leaders were elected on the ticket to implement the democratic changes design to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. After 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, they have failed to implement even one democratic reform. Of course, they must be held to democratic account to all the people of Zimbabwe. Your argument that they are accountable to themselves and party supporters is nonsense.
“Leave Chamisa and his supporters alone!” How naïve and foolish! Those who have held public office and/or aspire to do so are democratically accountable to the public. This is not debatable nor negotiable!
@ Phidza
“If you boycott Mwonzora and others will participate and elections will still go ahead.
And I can bet AU and SADC will endorse the result.”
If all we have done buy participating in these flawed elections is allow a few individuals claim the few gravy train seats, give Zanu PF legitimacy and the national agenda of reforms, free elections and good governance is once again kicked into the long grass. The obvious question is the suffering of the whole nation a fair price to pay to allow the few in the opposition to have the gravy train seats? The answer is surely this is too high a price to pay.
Are we going to continue in this madness of participating in flawed elections because we cannot bear the thought of someone like Mwonzora participate and claim the prize. The truth is that is what Zanu PF is counting on – that greed and envy will trump over rational thinking. Mnangagwa has just added the US$ 40 000 housing loan for MPs and Senators and car for POLAD freebies just to whet the appetites.
In 2013 it was none other than SADC leaders themselves who wanted MDC to boycott the elections. It is irrational to suggest they would have endorsed the result if MDC leaders had heeded their advice and boycotted the elections.
SADC are not going to endorse these flawed and illegal elections even if Chamisa and company participate. They make the mistake of doing so in the past, they are under increasing pressure to do the right thing!
Zanu PF is rigging these elections and CCC are participating out of greed; this is obvious. What is not certain is Zanu PF getting political legitimacy!
CCC rallies are well attended, Zanu PF will counter that with a few star rallies of bused in attendees and when it is time to vote it is not the voters who decide who is the winner but those who count the votes!
“I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how,” said Joseph Stalin, Russia dictator
https://www.facebook.com/4415858595176450/videos/248880217517558
@ Godfrey
“When Mosquito the Boxer fought against Kilimanjaro - No right person would call him an incompetent boxer.
Zanu with all its unfair strengths and advantages including Gold - we would not expect much from a bare fisted opponent against their might. So, the measure of incompetence has to be relative here too.”
Would you say the same thing about Mwonzora and Madhuku, after all they too are fighting the same Mount Kilimanjaro as Chamisa. Indeed, they all from the same stable and fought side by side in the past!
The issue here is that not only did these MDC/CCC leaders fail to implement the democratic reforms to take away Zanu PF’s excessive and undemocratic powers; they did so because Zanu PF bribed them. Worse still, they are participating in these flawed and illegal elections knowing doing so will give Zanu PF legitimacy. Still, they participate out of the same reason they did not implement even one reform during the GNU – greed. They know it and have admitted it themselves!
"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," confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
"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."
Buy the book and read it for yourself!
CCC leaders are participating in these elections out of greed; that is a historic fact. For anyone else, it is insane to participate in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy, especially after 43 years of rigged elections. People have come up with all manner of feeble excuses for justifying their insanity in participating in the flawed elections and perpetuating the dictatorship and their own suffering. Viewing this CCC vs Zanu PF election as a Mosquito vs Kilimanjaro fight is just one more such feeble excuse!
What is disappointing here is that many Zimbabweans still have no clue what the 2008 to 2013 GNU was about hence the reason why they have failed to appreciate the enormity of MDC’s failure to implement the reforms then. If you fail to comprehend that you cannot comprehend the seriousness of participating in flawed elections from the same reason – greed. Even now, with the benefit of ten years since the end of the GNU, some people still have no clue what it was about! It explains why we are in this mess and, more significantly, why we are stuck in this mess!
It is very sad that we have spend the last 43 years fighting to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and the men and women the nation has risked life and limb to elect into power to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship have not only neglected their set task but have been busy building a dictatorship of their own!
@ Ben Africa
“Thank you President Chamisa for reaching out to our regional community…. Pliz stop blaming the victim blame ZANUpf it is the perpetrator… not Chamisa.”
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC/CCC leaders into power for the express purpose they would implement the democratic reforms and end the Zanu PF dictatorship, as the initial party’s name implied – Movement for Democratic Change. After 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, what democratic changes have MDC/CCC brought.
Of course, it is right for the people hold Chamisa and company to democratic account for failing to implement even one reform in 23 years. Zimbabwe will not be stuck in this hell-hole if MDC/CCC had not sold out and implemented the reforms and worse still continue to sell out by participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship and the suffering of the masses.
Chamisa and company are perpetuating the dictatorship for 30 pieces of silver and the people are the victims here. How anyone can fail to see this and confuse the two beggars belief! No wonder the country is in a mess, with such stupidity what else!
@ Chris
The first step in removing Zanu PF from power is implementing the democratic reforms and stop Zanu PF rigging elections. After 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, not even one token reform has been implemented. Indeed, MDC/CCC are now participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the sake of a few gravy train seats, 30 pieces of silver.
It is shocking that some many Zimbabweans are being conned by CCC into participating in these flawed elections on the promise the party can win rigged elections. To be a simpleton is a curse worse than death, these people are helping to perpetuate their own suffering in pursuit of an oxymoron!
@ Chaurura
“Zanu can't weaken itself through reforms. If CCC pulls out of elections other political parties will legitimise election results. So, what other options does CCC have?? If it pulls out then what’s next??”
You are jumping the gun. Do you understand that Morgan Tsvangirai and friends launched MDC in answer to the nation’s need for democratic changes to stop Zanu PF rigging elections as the only way to end the curse of misrule? They named the party Movement for Democratic Change to underline their purpose.
What democratic changes have they brought in 23 years, 5 of which in the 2008 to 2013 GNU?
I undertook teach “O” level Mathematics to an Adult Education class. I soon realised that many of the students did not complete grade seven much less form two. It was utterly useless teaching someone the complexities of trigonometry when they have not mastered simple Arithmetic!
If you do not understand that MDC leaders sold out by failing to implement even one token democratic reform during the GNU, when they had the golden opportunity to do so, you will never understand why they are selling out in participating in these flawed elections. NEVER!
First learn what the GNU was about; just as you must first learn arithmetic because it is the solid foundation on which mathematics is built and stands!
@ Mujuru
“I don't know which reforms can stop a sitting government from rigging if they really wanted to.
Florida rings a bell.”
Everyone who has read your comments knows that you have no clue why we need reforms, what the reforms are much less how they are implemented. You are just one example of why Zimbabwe is in this mess - you have no clue on anything of substance and yet you have the vote.
Universal suffrage was supposed to be a blessing and now it is a curse!
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