The worst thing that has happened in Zimbabwe since MDC leaders sold out of implementing democratic reforms was for the nation to abandon the fight to implement the democratic reforms as the only sure way to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. The new rallying call was to forget reforms and concentrate on winning rigged elections. SADC leaders, did not agree and even tried to have the 2013 elections postponed until reforms were implemented.
“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 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’.”
As we now know Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T and MDC-N friends ignored the waring to postpone the elections. Tsvangirai’s self-confidence that participating was the right decision by the “sea of red”, MDC-T regalia colour, at the party’s campaign rallies.
The 2013 election results was a landslide Zanu PF victory as SADC leaders had predicted. The victory was so overwhelming that many MDC-T and MDC-N leaders were surprised and more significantly it knocked so sense into their heads. The 2014 MDC-T party congress resolved the party will not participate in future elections without first implementing the democratic reforms.
“No reform, no elections!” was the new MDC-T rallying call. Tendai Biti was one of the senior opposition leaders to underline the sheer futility of participating in these flawed elections.
“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 legitimising 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.”
Sadly, greed got the better of our opposition leaders because by the 2018 elections they had all changed their minds; they participated in the elections although not even a token reforms had been implemented.
Since the 2018 elections some opposition leaders and supporters have shifted one gear up. Instead of the usual “we can win rigged elections, if we work hard enough”, they now add the foolish notion that few opposition leaders elected into parliament have been effective. In other words the status quo in which Zanu PF blatantly rigs the election to secure a Zanu PF majority in parliament and senate plus the presidency is fine because the few opposition leaders elected have done a splendid job of representing our interests.
“Dear Reader,
Tendai Biti of Zimbabwe's Citizens Coalition for Change's re-deployment to PARLIAMENT & others of his pedigree is a matter of NATIONAL & not PARTY/ MOVEMENT interest.
Sometimes a PARTY/ MOVEMENT must consider NATIONAL ahead of INTRA interests.
That is NATIONAL LEADERSHIP DEFINED or at least SIGNALED especially in a POLITICALLY POLARIZED context like Zimbabwe.” pleaded Dr Phillan Zamchiya an Oxford based academic.
On the contrary Zimbabwe’s tyrannical autocracy, masquerading in the post 2008 GNU era as factitious multiparty designed to deliver a majority Zanu PF government with a sprinkling of opposition leaders, has failed the nation and must be dismantled. Opposition leaders like Tendai Biti and Temba Mliswa have said many pertinent issues in parliament but when push came to shove Zanu PF used its majority to do as the party damn well pleased.
What is the point of electing leaders like Biti into power when all they ever do is make noise!
Zimbabwe is a failed state, pariah state, ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who have rigged elections to stay in power. The thugs learned during the 2008 to 2013 GNU that by letting a few opposition leaders win some other gravy train seats they can continue to rig elections and get political legitimacy.
43 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and lawlessness have left Zimbabwe in economic ruins and political paralysis. Millions of our people are now living in abject poverty, without hope and a future. The current economic, social and political situation is unsustainable we need change. Real and meaningful change!
Opposition leaders like Tendai Biti have done nothing of note to stop Zimbabwe becoming a failed state and will not make any difference post 2023 elections. The nation is hungry for real change and not token change.
“Does the TRANSITIONAL PATHWAY to STATE POWER remain the same even in the case of CCC winning the POPULAR VOTE on election day that is on the day our Lord 23 August 2023. Yes, it does,” concluded Dr Zamchiya.
Zanu PF control every aspect of Zimbabwe’s election process. It is naive to expect the opposition to win these flawed elected elections especially after 43 years of Zanu PF Mafiosi rigged the elections.
Besides the notion that we should give up the fight for reforms and free elections in pursuit of winning RIGGED elections is an oxymoron. Why are we trading gold for fool’s gold!
Zanu PF is rigging these 2023 elections and thus underline that fact that Zimbabwe is a pariah state and nothing has changed. If Tendai Biti was to be honest and put aside his greed, the only reason for participating in the flawed elections, then he would be boycotting these flawed elections and be calling on his fellow opposition leaders to do the same.
“It will be very foolish for the opposition to continue legitimising these sham elections!” said Tendai Biti in 2015. He was right then and he will be right now! In the present political system all he does is make noise and that is a criminal waste of human resources.
36 comments:
@ Mbizi
Well done! In a country where you can criticise Zanu PF or CCC but not both it is very hard to be factual since both are corrupt and incompetent.
When the choice to vote meaning giving Zanu PF legitimacy it is foolish to vote!
I do not agree with you that rural voters vote for Zanu PF because the party feeds them. The rural voters have been reduced into nothing but medieval serfs beholden to the overbearing Zanu PF thugs. They are frogmarched to vote and they are in deep trouble if they don’t!
@ Mbizi
“Who do you real think organises the elections? , dhaaa!! It's the army, Chigumba wamuzvonda is a victim aripa tight, she can't resign, she has to follow commands achida chero asingade, last elections pane pakabuda akazvimba Kumeso, what happened? But because you think she controls elections and hate her that made you blind and didn't see the obvious, she can't leave that job until vakuru vati ok, who would want such a terrible stressful job where you are told to jump Mt Everest.THINK mhani maZIm.”
Chigumba like many others propping up the dictatorship knows that the elections are being rigged and she is paid well to turn a blind eye to the rigging. And as long as she is paid well she will do as she is told.
Of course, she is selling out, we are a nation of sell outs - that is precisely why we are a failed nation!
Why is it that all we ever see in videos of Nelson Chamisa being mobbed by his supporters or on stage singing or at the very best regurgitating his 245 character tweets. We never ever get to hear what he said to the supporters. Is it because he had nothing to say or it is all part and parcel of this so-called strategic ambiguity! (A phrase borrowed from USA’s policy on Taiwan if China was to attack the Island nation. Everything else is crystal clear.)
The only thing that is crystal clear with Chamisa is his desire to be president and he has not even thought about what he is going to do once in power beyond the fairy tale ending “everyone lived happily ever after!” In the past he promised bullet trains and spaghetti junctions at every rural growth point but has since brought that when he could not explain why he needed a spaghetti junction for a side road going nowhere! The 50 km Mugabe High Way which rarely had more than 10 vehicle per day. The only time it had 200 plus cars per day was Mugabe’s motorcade!
Chamisa has no plan on anything and by being silent, he gets the benefit of the doubt. No doubt once in office he will do nothing and so he will never be accused of doing anything wrong! Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess, the country has been like a ship drifting in the rough seas with no rudder and no captain.
What the country needs desperately is leaders with a plan and a sense of direction and purpose; not yet another blundering buffoon whose only ambition is to be called Mr President! He is just an upstart who will be a priest only if he will be the Pope!
@ Mliswa
“HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity. My point of national interest concerns Members of Parliament. While we approve the budget here and there are matters in the Bluebook, for example, the one which Hon. Members were entitled to US$80 000 car then they got US$50 000 and the balance was US$30 000. This was something that was in the Bluebook and it is yet to be implemented but yet the Judiciary of the country – if I am not mistaken and I seek clarity – was given US$400 000 to buy houses. The Executive was given US$350 000 and we were given US$40 000. What is important from an aspect of national interest is that we need to give confidence to the Zimbabweans so that they do not think that we are busy plundering.
Where and how did the US$400 000 come about. Was it in the Bluebook? The US$350 000 for the Executive was it in the Bluebook. I can stand and say the one for Members of Parliament was in the Bluebook.”
Zimbabwe’s electoral system is flawed, so flawed it is guaranteed to produce a Zanu PF majority without failure. “You can't keep on participating in flawed electoral processes that serve to give big benefits to dictators such as Robert Mugabe,” as Tendai Biti aptly put it. The most foolish thing we hear is that the system is working!
Mliswa is one of those who would swear the elections are NOT rigged or, at the least, the opposition can devise winning in rigged elections strategies. And, that the few opposition leaders in parliament are effective and therefore we must keep the status quo.
Here big mouth is telling us that MP’s US$80 000 allocation for cars is NOT plunder because it is in the Bluebook. He is disappointed that the MPs have received US$50 000 and the US$30 000 is still outstanding.
He is also complaining that the judges have received US$400 000 which was not in the national budget or is in the Bluebook. He and his fellow MPs gladly accepted the US$40 000 housing loan last November, it was not in the budget nor Bluebook! The bottomline is there is nothing Mliswa and his follow opposition MP can do to stop the plunder of the nation’s wealth. And that is what Zanu PF has been doing all along!
So other than Mliswa and his opposition colleagues just making noise in parliament, they are totally ineffective and useless. What the country needs is public officials who democratically accountable to the people through free, fair and credible elections.
You were in the 2008 to 2013 GNU and MDC did not submit any public media reform proposal. All Tsvangirai complained about was that public media should stop calling him a puppet!
There will be no free, fair and credible elections without an independent media and freedom of expression. These elections are flawed, “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw,” as David Coltart readily confessed. And yet you lot have participated in the flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy in return for the few gravy train seats.
CCC is hell bent on participating in these elections free public media or no free public media! Zanu PF knows all too well about MDC/CCC leaders’ greed and is ignoring calls for reforms knowing fully well that Chamisa and company will participate in the election no matter how flawed the process gets. Chamisa is shedding crocodile tears here.
@ Osama23
“At least today you have shown your cards.
You hate Chamisa despite all the fake love u show when u write about reforms and elections boycotting.
Zvaramba manje wave kuubuditsa the murakashi inside u.
We can now deal with your stupid articles the same way we deal with Zanu propaganda.”
I believe what I am say is the truth and factual. Zanu PF is rigging these elections and CCC are participating to give SADC the excuse to grant Zanu PF legitimacy. What does CCC get out of this? A few CCC leaders will win the gravy train seats being offered to entice the opposition.
You can dismiss what I say as stupid, the evidence is there for all with eyes to see and the intellect to comprehend. Of course, it is not all who see who perceive, hear and understand.
@ Discotheque
“Why are you so concerned ne party is isina ma structures. Zvivhunze paugere ipapo.”
MDC A led by Chamisa won 40% of the vote in 2018 and CCC as its successor has the potential repeat that in 2023. It is the duty of every thinking citizen (note I am very specific on which citizen) to hold all holding public office and/or aspiring to do so to democratic account.
Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess precisely because, as a nation, we have failed to hold these in public office to account. We must end this foolishness if we are serious about getting out of this hell-hole we are stuck in.
@ Lesley
“People have freedom of choice to follow what they deem has the capacity to represent their desires and interests...That is your opinion and perception and it doesn't hold water…”
And you think your opinion and perception that “people have freedom of choice” in Zimbabwe holds water? In a country that has failed too hold free and fair elections these last 43 years! What a sick joke!
@ Lesley
“There is a possibility of change in political systems and you have to know that change is inevitable ... An awakening giant of the masses is rising against any oppressive political system...come rain come thunder...The first stance is through peaceful means which is the electoral processes, the next after this can be mass protests...we witnessed this in 2017 and it can happen again...pressured by the collapsing economy, Zimbabweans will be left with no choice..”
And you think you are helping to bring about change by failing to implement reforms even when you have the golden opportunity to do so and by participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy? How naive and ….. !
@ Mambo Svosve
“I don’t know how you became a doctor . That video never talked about a representative! That video is saying each of us must always stand up for injustice . You want to shift responsibility to someone else - just like you always think it’s Chamisa’s responsibility to stand up against ED -that lecturer said it’s OUR responsibility, EVERYONE’s responsibility to stand up against injustice( pabate ipapo).
Attacking CCC the only hope of the people is outright selling out- you are indeed one of the biggest sellouts in modern day struggle - second only to Mwonzora- Maybe worse coz you pretend to care! Pretence is the worst sin in the Bible!”
The lecturer did indeed say “it’s OUR responsibility, EVERYONE’s responsibility to stand up against injustice.” In this case the people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders on the understanding the party would deliver the democratic changes the country was dying for. MDC leaders have been in power for the last 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, and all I am doing is holding them to account.
You accept MDC leaders were elected on the promise of delivering democratic changes, as the party name clearly states. But will not accept that they failed to bring about even one meaningful change. So what the devil were they doing these last 23 years?
It was not everybody’s responsibility to propose democratic reforms during the GNU, for example, but MDC leaders’ responsibility. In five GNU years they failed to implement even one reform. Not even one!
CCC are participating in these elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF is rigging and that participating will only give SADC the excuse to grant Zanu PF legitimacy. CCC are participating regardless out of greed. And to crown it all the CCC leaders know this (but not many of the fanatical supporters like you, Mambo Svosve, you are too thick).
“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,” confessed David Coltart.
So CCC are participating in these flawed elections to once again give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship and the suffering of the ordinary people. How that makes CCC the people’s “only hope” beggars belief!
@ Walter
“Definitely change is coming whether you like it or not.”
I deal with the facts and not wishful thinking!
MDC leaders had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic changes during the GNU. They failed to implement even one token reform in five years of the GNU. Why?
I will tell you, because they were and still are corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent. It is therefore not surprising that after the GNU debacle the MDC leaders have been participating in these flawed elections, “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw,” as Coltart confessed. They did not withdraw for the same reasons they failed to implement even one reform.
CCC are participating in these flawed 2023 elections for the same reasons - greed and incompetence. How any one can view that as a solid basis for meaningful change only goes to show how little the individual understands what is going on here; even now with all the benefit of hindsight!
Open your eyes the evidence is already there that Zanu PF is rigging these elections and CCC's claim of winning big is just hot air. The idea is to protest the flawed elections and CCC's selling out NOW and not have to wait until 24 August when it will be too late. Participating and/or saying nothing will be assumed to consent or approval of the process.
"Qui tacet consentit" (Silence gives consent) a common maxim of the law!
@ Walter
“Your criticism is full of toxicity and destructive because you're always blaming opposition party leaders yet you're not a registered voter. l'm not a registered voter but l have managed to make my family and friends to register to vote.
Zimbabwe haivakwe nehukasha Baba kana mune ma ideas you can help those people in leadership to execute them so that we will bring change.”
Which part of “the process is so flawed and illegal you will not change the result but by participating you will give Zanu PF legitimacy” are you failing to understand?
Chamisa et al are hell bent on participating out of greed.
Please read this quotation from David Coltart again carefully!
“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,” confessed David Coltart.
It is very sad that decades of intellectual inactivity has resulted in so many Zimbabweans’ brain ossifying into fat! It is simply unbelievable that so many people can be so dumb! Fcuk me!
In their SERENE moments Biti et al admit the sheer futility of participating in these flawed elections. "So flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw," confessed David Coltart. Yet they have participated and are hell bent on participating in these 2023 elections because GREED got the better of them!
MDC/CCC were elected to deliver democratic changes and end the Zanu PF dictatorship; they are the one perpetuating the dictatorship because of GREED. How long are we going to allow this insanity? HOW LONG!!!!!
https://www.zimeye.net/2023/06/17/biti-must-remain-mp-its-in-national-interest-argue-zamchiya-surely-not-just-to-legitimise-sham-elections/
@ Marimba
“Chamisa haasi iye ega ari kuyenda Kuma elections mukuru kutorine mabato akawanda so iwe sei uri kutsoma Chamisa senge ndiye ega opposition we have more than 5 political parties so unofunga kuti Chamisa aka boycotta ma elections vamwe ivavo vano ramba here.”
Read again what I have said, “the process is so flawed and illegal you will not change the result but by participating you will give Zanu PF legitimacy.” In other words all those who participate be it as a political party with 40% of the national vote or 4% or as an individual they each contribute to giving Zanu PF legitimacy. It is self evident the political party commanding 40% of the votes guilty is much more than the political party with 4% and the individual with one vote.
MDC A garnered 40% of the votes in 2018 elections and so if they had boycotted, their absence would have been notice. CCC has inherited most of MDC A’s supporters going into these 2023 elections.
It is just a nonsensical and feeble excuse to keep wittering about CCC is not the only opposition party. Who said it was the only one? If boycotting the election is the only rational thing to do then they should do it.
Zanu PF has laid the few gravy train seats bait knowing fully well that Chamisa and company will find it irresistible just as they did during the GNU. MDC failed to implement even one reform during the GNU because of greed and it is idiotic to pretend this is new problem.
It is one thing is you are Biti, Chamisa or one of the party leaders hoping to win one of the gravy train seats. No private citizen with half a brain would forgo the chance to implement the reforms and end this Zanu PF dictatorship to allow CCC to gratify their insatiable greed.
Of course, if you are an idiot, it is another matter; idiots are renowned for shooting themselves in the foot! You cannot reason with them, their brain has ossified into fat and is impermeable to reason and logic. Sadly, Zimbabwe has more than her fair share of idiots and hence the reason the country is in this mess.
@ Saruchera
“You are right this mkori guy is a zanu pf sympathiser S and knows CCC is going to win so he wants CCC TO to boycott elections so that the elections will go ahead with these small zanu pf projects there by giving zanu a landslide victory.”
You can delude yourself all you want with the CCC will win big nonsense. Zanu PF controls every aspect of the voting process and taking full advantage of this to ensure the party has a landslide victory.
CCC leaders like Tendai Biti and David Coltart have publicly acknowledged it is futile to expect to win these flawed elections. The process is “so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw,” confessed David Coltart. He and his friends have not withdrawn because of greed.
After 43 years of rigged elections it is insane to allow this madness to continue because some village idiots will not accept the the sheer stupidity of giving up the fight for reforms and free elections in favour of winning rigged elections!
@ Lindiwe
“You are part and parcel of idiots who thinks boycotting elections is the only solution to push out ZANU PF better go and sit down with your sponsors and tell them the people of Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 says no to Ediots and Varakashi.”
Since the 2008 watershed elections were Zanu PF was forced to sign the 2008 Global Political Agreement and accept the GNU power sharing arrangement with MDC, Zanu PF has learned that the party must maintain the multi-party facade if it is not to be punished again. So ever since Zanu PF has seen to it that it gave away a few gravy train seats to entice the opposition to participate in the elections no matter how flawed and illegal the process got.
MPs and senators will get US$40 000 housing allowance over and above the US$80 000 car allowance plus the generous salary and allowance.
Mnangagwa has since introduced POLAD to reward the losing presidential candidates. There are going to be a number of presidential candidate in this 2023 election. There would have been even more candidate if it was not for the steep US$20 000 presidential candidate nomination fees.
Chamisa and his CCC are hell bent on participating in these elections no matter what. There are new comers like Chapman just as greedy for the gravy train seat and/or POLAD freebies. Of course, Zanu PF does not want the opposition to boycott the elections, it needs them to participate to maintain the multi-party facade to get political legitimacy.
So you thought Zanu PF would want the opposition to boycott the elections! It goes to show just how shallow, thick and slow you are! The tragedy for Zimbabwe is the vote has been given to people like you and Zanu PF is taking full advantage of your stupidity.
By participating you will not stop Zanu Pf rigging and winning the elections. All you will do is give SADC the excuse to grant Zanu PF legitimacy! But of course, you are too stupid to see all that!
@ Shumba S
Video showing new vehicles with Zanu PF colours!
Zanu PF is rigging these elections, the regime has very deep pockets and is bribing all the key people in this election! If we participate we cannot then complain the elections were rigged because we knew the elections were being rigged and chose to participate regardless - sure of CCC's Winning In Rigged Elections Strategies (WIRES).
Caveat emptor is a Latin phrase that translates to "let the buyer beware." It means that an individual buys at their own risk. In this case the voters know the elections are being rigged and have been warned they should implement reforms BEFORE elections and they refuse to listen.
Come 24 August 2023, Zimbabweans will be complaining of rigged elections but no one will listen. No one!
Yatsika musheche yamwaa!
@ Hopewell Chin’ono
“ZANUPF created its own propaganda narrative that it is under sanctions because of the land issue, it then believed its propaganda hook liner and sinker, and now thinks that if it pays white farmers, all is forgiven by America.
The Americans have said on many occasions that for them, it is human rights and the Rule of Law that will fix their bilateral problem with Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa’s advisors are misleading him and telling him to go for the land issue first by paying over US$3 billion to the white farmers hoping that America will shift its positions.”
Asking Zanu PF to hold free, fair and credible elections is a bridge too far for the regime to cross. Zanu PF thugs believe they have the divine right to rule the country by virtue of spear heading the liberation war. Yes the 43 years of Zanu PF rule has been a total disaster for the country as the economy has all but totally collapsed and millions now live in abject poverty. Only very few, the ruling elite and their cronies, have done well becoming filthy rich.
Regardless of the pathetic Zanu PF track record in power and the populous’ restless desire for change, the party’s resolve to stay in power at all cost is stronger than ever. Zanu PF would rather burn the whole country down than see some one else ruling it. The country is in a serious mess already with up to 49% of the people living in abject poverty, so the regime is burning the nation down already and still giving up power is unthinkable!
The nation’s position has been made much worse by the sellout MDC/CCC opposition who failed to implement reforms even when they had the golden opportunity to do so and are now indulging the Zanu PF dictatorship by participating in flawed elections to give the regime legitimacy for 30 pieces of silver!
So now Zanu PF condemns Zanu PF for rigging the elections and is against people participating in the flawed elections to give Zanu PF political legitimacy? The sheer stupidity of it all is breath-taking. No wonder the country is in a real mess - with such dimwits for citizens what else.
@ Faith
I will not stop the election going ahead nor stop CCC participating, they are hell bent on participating out of greed. What I will do is denounce the flawed process and CCC for selling out. SADC leaders must know that not every Zimbabwean was duped into participating in these utterly pointless elections and they have no excuse for granting Zanu PF legitimacy.
I will make sure not even a village idiot like you who participate in these elections will say they did not know the elections were being rigged and that they were being conned to participate to give Zanu PF legitimacy. This message will be hammered into your empty head!
@ Osama23
“And your articles are gonna stop it?”
No I will not stop the election going ahead nor stop CCC participating, they are hell bent on participating out of greed. What I will do is denounce the flawed process and CCC for selling out. SADC leaders must know that not every Zimbabwean was duped into participating in these utterly pointless elections and they have no excuse for granting Zanu PF legitimacy.
I will make sure not even a village idiot who participate in these elections will not say they did not know the elections were being rigged and that they were being conned into participate to give Zanu PF legitimacy. This message will be hammered into their empty head!
And you, why are you supporting the participation in these flawed elections? Why are you hell bent on silencing those who dare disagree the elections are being rigged and CCC are participating out of greed?
@ Jemwa
“Why are you the only person asking asking CCC not to participate.“
CCC leaders like Tendai Biti with a bit of grey stuff between their ears have said it is futile to participate!
“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 legitimising 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.”
Of course; not all who see, perceive; not all who hear, understand!
@ Mus Vibe
“This is is mere redundancy reminiscent of dunderheads.”
Zanu PF has rigged elections these last 43 years. Did you dismiss that too as “mere redundancy reminiscent of dunderheads”!
If it was true then, what is stopping Zanu PF rigging these elections since not even one token democratic reforms has been implemented since the last rigged elections in 2018?
@ Kennedy
“So mudhara imi you are saying if ccc do not participate the election will not go ahead?”
CCC will never ever boycott the elections because of greed as Coltart explained below.
“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,” confessed David Coltart.
So we need to be realistic here, CCC will participate in these flawed elections come what may because of GREED.
What we want is to make sure SADC leaders do not grant Zanu PF legitimacy and that we can do by condemning the flawed elections and condemning CCC for selling out. SADC leaders must be left in no double that there are Zimbabweans out there who do not approve of this circus elections.
“Qui tacet consentit!” (Silence gives consent!) SADC leaders must not be given an excuse for granting Zanu PF legitimacy.
The first act of Zanu PF deception was to con MDC into abandoning the primary task of the GNU, implementing the democratic reforms. MDC failed to implement even one token reform in five years of the GNU.
Second deception: convince MDC they would win 2013 elections regardless of all Zanu PF vote rigging shenanigans because MDC are so, so popular.
Third deception was to keep MDC leaders participating in elections no matter what by offering a few gravy train seats and then, after 2018 elections, POLAD freebies to losing presidential candidates for the purpose of maintaining the multi-party facade.
Fourth deceit was to tell MDC supporters and public Zanu PF is in power because people vote for the party. If they want the regime removed they must vote to remove it. All the party wanted is for people to keep participating to give the regime legitimacy, the opposition failed to win even with 73% of the votes as 2008 elections showed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-5QWfxUNIk
His antics have not gone down well with key political players in the country and experts alike with Zimpapers Group Political Editor, Ranga Mataire saying Professor Mutambara is seeking attention in a bid to market his books which have no impact in society.
"No one in Zimbabwe has actual memory of his contribution during the government of national unity, I think he is trying to court relevance by courting the opposition, but I don't think it has any traction because of his political manoeuvring. As a political figure, I think his popularity ended when he was a student leader and people had so much confidence when he came back during the GNU, but when you look at the history, there is very little to show for his education. For now, he is just a shadow of what he could have been. It's not surprising that Prof Mutambara thinks he will have political relevance if he identifies with the opposition, he also wants to sell his books. I don't know whether he would have any readers to that effect because he has been writing self-praise books about his experience in the GNU," said Mataire.
Political analyst, Mr Leopold Chakanyuka zeroed in on the robotics Professor's failed political career.
Said Chakanyuka, "If you want to look at the history of Professor Mutambara, he is a complete failure. There is absolutely nothing that shows his capability either as a politician during his time as a Deputy Prime Minister or as a scientist, there is absolutely nothing. I don't know if he thinks that he is going to get another chance or there is going to be Government of National Unity, he is just lying to himself," he said.
Professor Mutambara has drawn the wrath of key political players and Zimbabweans at large for his political theories regarding the First and Second Republic which observers feel lack both political substance and direction.
History will say the primary task of the 2008 to 2013 GNU was to implement the democratic reforms and Arthur Mutambara and his fellow MDC friends failed to implement even one toke reform in five years! Mutambara’s books, three volumes so far, are bragging about the quality leadership he provided during the GNU.
So is the MDC failed to implement even one token reform where was this so called quality leadership, every one would ask?
@ Uncle Bee
“I agree with you my brother this guy must be removed from this group he is a genuine Zanu pf project. In this critical time we need positive thinking. Even if CCC don't participate in the election Zanu pf will still remain in power ,so what? This time around the fullness of time has come.”
If MDC had implemented the democratic reforms as the party was elected to do Zanu PF would be history by now. Why did they fail to implement even one token reform when they had the golden chance to do so? Is not only a relevant historic question but going forward too. We are stuck with Zanu Pf because MDC/CCC are participating in flawed elections to give the regime legitimacy.
People like you think political leaders are demigods who should not be asked questions much less held to account for selling out. You cannot bear to hear that MDC/CCC leaders are corrupt and incompetent. Well they are and I am hear to hold them to account! This is not negotiable!
@ Faith
In March 2008 Zimbabwe voted by 73% for regime change but that did not happen so how can anyone still say people voted for Zanu PF? You just don't know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections. Zanu PF has been rigging elections and is rigging these 2023 elections.
If Hopewell Chin'ono is arrested, charged and convicted of any criminal offence then he should face the consequences like anyone else and stop blaming others for it. Even is Chikanza was the one who revealed the initial information leading to his conviction, he cannot blame Chikanza because Chin'ono should have never committed the crime!
ANC has resolutely stood in Zimbabwe's corner in the fight against the sanctions.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Mail in Beijing, China, where he led his party delegation for deliberations with the Communist Party of China (CPC), Mbalula said the sanctions were "imposing economic hardships on the people".
"There is no justification for the sanctions against Zimbabwe. It is imposing economic hardships on the people. Also, these sanctions are perpetrated for political reasons like regime change by superpower countries, which we don't support," he said.
"We are against unjust sanctions against any country. The only sanctions that were justified were against apartheid, because apartheid was inhumane, and the rest of humanity gathered in one corner against the sanctions."
The ANC, he said, will no longer pursue quiet diplomacy when it comes to the sanctions on Zimbabwe.
"We are working on a very comprehensive action plan and campaign . . . because, as much as we address all the other issues . . . we have a problem next door. It means South Africa must stand up to that. We have been blamed for some time about quiet diplomacy but we need to voice our actions openly in terms of advocating the end of sanctions in Zimbabwe."
The unilateral coercive measures imposed on Zimbabwe, Mbalula added, had nothing to do with the rule of law but were a reaction to the historic land reform programme.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa heading a delegation of fellow African leaders has been to Ukraine and Russia to call on these two nations to end the war between them. A commendable gesture, if only they had stopped there. President Ramaphosa underline Africa’s neutrality in this war. This is just foolish. This is clear cut case of a bully invading another country and declaring war. What choice did the Ukrainians had other than to submit or fight to defend their basic right as a sovereign nation! How any one could be indecisive and neutral in such a case beggars belief!
It real comes as no surprise that the blundering regime south of River Limpopo has the wrong end of the stick on Zimbabwe elections. It is the people of Zimbabwe alone, in a free, fair and credible elections, who should decide who governs the country. Are these ANC buffoons now saying they agree with Zanu PF in denying the people their right to meaningful vote to stop regime change because Zimbabwe is under sanctions?
Africa is the most troubled continent on earth and it is easy to see why. We have some of the most corrupt and incompetent leaders who cannot do anything right. They have the knack of shooting themselves in the foot because they cannot even get right what should be obvious and common sense.
We in Zimbabwe have good reasons to worry, we have Putin type thug at home and blundering buffoons for neighbours who love poking their big noses in our national affairs
@ Simba
“Many who get annoyed with Wilbert Mukori are of the mindset that assumes that elections in Zimbabwe produce change, an outcome that happens in nations that function under absolute electoral-democracy.
But since 1896, the nation is run by not even selectoral, but elejectoral democracy, which is more brutal and almost always upsetting.
These electoral democratists are usually the majority, and they are almost always led astray, for even in the west, there is no absolute electoral science. Many western countries run on selectoral democracy.
While one thinks of getting victory through voting, they'll discover that there is another group that does their own voting, that determines who leads in the end. These are either selectors or ejectors.
It is for this reason that politics requires more of thinking and less of feeling. Because your life will be burnt away or ticked off by selectors and ejectors (stubborn decision makers).
Parties like CCC need to upgrade their politics to the level of selectoral and or ejectoral viciousnes if they are going to take state power.”
Zanu PF has rigged elections for the last 43 years to keep on hoping that the process with produce a different result after all these years in the very essence of insanity. Those profiting from the failed system do not want the truth told because they have an invested interest in the status quo. The overwhelming majority, who are at the coal face of the failed state, are locked in the rat race. They have to keep running for fear if they stop they will be trampled. Like all the insane, they cannot think.
Some one has to think for Zimbabwe. Some one has to try to stop this rat race, this insanity.
@ Faith
Stop participating in a flawed election to give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuate the dictatorship! If you stop this insanity there will no need of me warning you of the sheer futility of participating. To tell me you are tired of hearing the warning but will participate regardless is not good enough. I will stop sounding the warning if you STOP PARTICIPATING, STOP THE INSANITY!
Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga graced the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa 56th Pilgrimage, celebrating the life and ministry of Bernard Mizeki at the Bernard Mizeki Shrine in Marondera.
Mnangagwa pledged money and promised to deliver social amenities to Anglican’s revered Bernard Mizeki shrine.
Taking advantage of thousands that gathered at Bernard Mizeki shrine, Mnangagwa canvassed for support in the August 23 polls.
“I thought that at a pilgrimage there will be many people. If you are the head of State, with many people like this I take advantage and come.
“When we were landing here, seeing multitudes of congregants I praised the Lord because the congregants and Bishops are among some who vote. There is a relationship between the State and the church. Whatever you ask you shall be given, I am now asking you for August 2023. You are believers and you take heed of God’s word,” said Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe is a failed state that is failing to provide for the most basic needs such as education, health care, clean running water and 49% of the people are living in abject poverty. It is shocking that the state is spending money, hand over fist, on bribes and matters to help Zanu PF win elections. Here, the glory of Caesar is now all that matters and the good of Rome is completely forgotten!
Zanu PF is rigging these elections and the only way to end this madness is by refusing to take any part in this flawed and illegal process. And to publicly denounce this fraud. Silence in the face of such an outrage is not an option.
“Qui tacet consentit!” (Silence gives consent!)
Many African countries either abstained when UN resolution to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine and starting the wart. Some African countries sided with Russia. This is just foolish. This is clear cut case of a bully invading another country and declaring war. What choice did the Ukrainians have other than to submit or stand up and fight to defend their basic right as a sovereign nation! How any one could be indecisive or worse still side with the bully beggars belief!
It real comes as no surprise that the blundering regime south of River Limpopo has the wrong end of the stick on Zimbabwe elections. It is the people of Zimbabwe alone, in a free, fair and credible elections, who should decide who governs the country. Are these ANC buffoons now saying they agree with Zanu PF in denying the people their right to meaningful vote to stop regime change because Zimbabwe is under sanctions?
We in Zimbabwe have good reasons to worry, we have Putin type thug at home and blundering ANC buffoons for neighbours who love poking their big noses in our national affairs. ANC has vowed they will not allow regime change in Zimbabwe as long as the sanctions remain - a licence for Zanu PF to rig the elections!
If people do not hear or hear but fail to understand then it is necessary to repeat the message again and again. The prospect of yet another rigged elections and giving Zanu PF legitimacy is as real as it is unthinkable. The alarm bells must ring out loud as church bells so that even those who are stone deaf will feel the vibrations! You ain't seen nothing yet!
The Nationalists Alliance Party (NAP) has called on other political parties to boycott the upcoming elections in protest against the hefty nomination fees for election candidates.
NAP leader, Divine Mhambi-Hove who launched a Constitutional Court against the fees argues that if any political party chose to participate, they would be endorsing the unconstitutionality of the elections.
This comes after Parliament's Legal Committee (PLC) approved the nomination fees after a Constitutional Court ruling ordering parliament to review Statutory Instrument (SI) 144 of 2022.
The PLC, made up of five members, three of whom are Zanu PF members, issued a Non-Adverse Report authorising the nomination costs, which means candidates must pay US$1 000 to run for MP, Senate, or provincial council, and US$20 000 to run for president.
The nomination courts are sitting on Wednesday and ZEC has not produced a verified voters’ roll. The law demands it and common sense demands it too. How can we have free, fair and credible elections without some thing as basic as a verified voters’ roll.
Zanu PF is rigging these elections and the evidence is there for all to see; no verified voters’ roll, no free public media, the party is using state resources to buy votes and coerce voters especially rural voters, etc., etc. The opposition know the elections are being rigging and, worse still, that their participation will only give Zanu PF legitimacy.
"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 legitimising 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.”
The only reason why Tendai Biti and his fellow opposition leaders have been participating in these flawed elections regardless of their knowing this is futile is greed. They know Zanu PF is offering a few gravy train seats as bait and they find that irresistible!
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