"So our determination is to support every effort that is going to give us a free and fair election,” SADC chief election observer and former Zambian deputy president Never Sekwila Mumba said on arrival.
"We consider a free and fair election as a tool for peace and stability in any country.
"So if we do not have a fair election, we are going to be subjected to insecurity for quite a while.”
This was sweet, sweet music to every thinking Zimbabwean out there because Zimbabwe is a failed state precisely because we have failed to hold free, fair and credible elections ever since the country’s independence in 1980. Former deputy president Mumba are even sweeter because SADC has endorsed rigged elections giving Zanu PF legitimacy and thus contributing to the country’s political instability and not ending it.
It was SADC’s refusal to endorse Zanu PF’s claim of election victory in 2008 that forced Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies to sign the 2008 Global Political Agreement, agreeing to the need for Zimbabwe to implement the democratic reforms designed to prevent a repeat of the blatant cheating and wanton violence by Zanu PF. A GNU was formed comprising Zanu PF and the two MDC factions and tasked to implement the democratic reforms.
Credit where credit is due! SADC leaders tried their best to get MDC leaders to implement the democratic reforms but not no avail. Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office, the ministerial limos, generous salaries and allowances, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc., etc. And to show their gratitude, the MDC leaders kicked reforms into the thorny bushes.
“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.
Of course the Zanu PF cronies were right, they knew only too well the corrupting influence of the patronage system behind the gravy train mentality; they were victims of the same themselves.
“Mose murivakadzi vaMugabe!” (You are all Mugabe’s concubines, you will never rock the boat!) Margaret Dongo once scolded the Zanu PF MPs and Ministers in sheer exasperation at their failure to stand-up to Mugabe even when they were duty bound to do so. A remarked that, no doubt, tickled the late dictator to his death!
With not even one meaningful reform implemented, SADC leaders called for Zimbabwe’s 2013 elections to be postponed until reforms were implemented. “If you participate in these elections, you will lose. The elections are done!” they warned Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends at the SADC Summit in Maputo in June 2013.
Once again MDC leaders paid no heed and Zanu PF went on to blatantly rig the elections. SADC leaders went on to endorse the elections, a volte-face since they had condemned the same just weeks earlier, and grant Zanu PF political legitimacy.
“What else could SADC leaders do since their efforts to get democratic reforms had been rebuffed by MDC and the ordinary Zimbabweans (through their failure to back SADC in forcing MDC to implement reforms)” many have argued. Of course, they have a point.
Still, it must be said that granting vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy these last ten years, in 2013 and then again in 2018, has not helped Zimbabwe solve its problem of rigged elections and bad governance. There is crying need for SADC to rethink.
If SADC is truly committed to breaking Zimbabwe’s cycle of rigged elections and bad governance, as former deputy president Mumba as the chief of the regional body’s observer team, says SADC is. Then SADC must do what it should have done after the 2013 elections - condemn these 2023 elections as a farce and deny Zanu PF political legitimacy.
We all know that not even one token democratic reform was implemented since the 2013 elections. These 2023 elections have being held with no verified voters’ roll, there have been many cases of intimidation and wanton violence, the regime has squandered over US$5 billion buying voters and bribing key elections officials, etc., etc. “These 2023 elections are done!” to repeat SADC leaders’ 2013 elections warning.
33 comments:
It was heartening to hear that SADC election observers value free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe. SADC has been propping up this Zanu PF regime by granting it political legitimacy knowing fully well the party had rigged the elections.
Zanu PF is rigging these elections and it is up to us as Zimbabweans to make sure SADC does not sell out and grant Zanu PF legitimacy again!
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-234606.html
Going by today's NewsDay article headlined 'Voters roll mess to affect 1,8m people' reproduced below, the real mess is that the applicants in the court case referred to in the article apparently do not quite know or do not quite understand the voters roll that they need to be focussing on, which is the polling station voters roll that will be used for the purposes of elections next week.
As a result, the applicants end up caught up in a self-indulgent and practically useless fishing expedition, as they tie themselves in knots with neither well established locus standi nor clarity on the voters roll that is used for elections in Zimbabwe nor specificity on the particular election or elections that is or are the subject of their application.
On its part ZEC is not being helpful at all, it is playing hide and seek; obfuscating everything and not coming out clearly about the voters roll that by law is used for elections in Zimbabwe and on whether, as required by section 21(6) of the Electoral Act, ZEC has in fact given all candidates, free of charge, copies of the voters roll to be used at 12,374 polling stations in the three harmonised elections next week on 23 August.
While the applicants are clearly not helping their own confused and confusing application, ZEC is making the situation worse by violating section 239 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which requires the Commission to conduct elections efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance to the law [in this case the law being section 21(6) of the Electoral Act].
Zanu PF is rigging these elections 2023 elections, there was never any doubting that reality given not even one one token reform was implemented since the 2018 rigged elections.
The EU Election Observer Mission has listed 23 reform recommendations, so no one in the opposition camp can say they did not know what reforms were required. CCC and company are participating in these flawed 2023 elections knowing fully well that not even one of the 23 reforms was implemented.
As if participating with no reforms is not bad enough, CCC’s blundering incompetence is gifting Zanu PF more and more vote rigging opportunities. Two months ago Chamisa finally admitted that MDC A failed to field election agents at 544 Polling Stations (Mwonzora said it was “about 2 000). There is growing evidence that this year the number will be even higher. And now this, ZEC gave the opposition candidates the wrong voters’ roll and they don’t even know what they want!
Zimbabwe is a failed state and the economic and social consequences are heart breaking and millions are now living in abject poverty. The people are desperate for change and by noon on Thursday thy will know that there will be no change. Zanu would have rigged and won the elections with the help from CCC!
Still, it must be said that the people have been warned that CCC is participating in the flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed. And that they should not participate and instead denounce the flawed elections and CCC for selling out. They paid no heed to the warning and now must pay dearly for it. Five more years of this failed state!
Zanu PF is rigging these elections thanks to MDC/CCC's failure to implement even one token reforms and insisting on participating with no reforms. As if that was not bad enough CCC is gifting Zanu PF even more vote rigging opportunities. One such gift is the failing to field elections agents at each Polling Station. In 2018 MDC A failed to field agents at 544 PSs, this year it certain to be more.
Now it turns outs opposition candidates have been using the wrong voters' roll and thus telling voters the wrong PS. Up to 1.8 million voters will be running around like headless chickens because they were send to the wrong PS to cast their vote! What a nightmare.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-234604.html
@ ORCA
"Taneta nekudyiswa munya isu nNdezvarinhi izvozvo.Zanu pf IRIKUDYIWA kanhi.Muchawona vakutimutsira mhirizhonga.Coz kubuda mustate house kunenge kunonetsa."
Wanting change is the easy bit, knowing how to get the change has been the challenge and so far mission impossible!
If the elections were free, fair and credible; Mnangagwa will lose to a donkey, that underlines just how desperate the people are for change. And so the obvious question is why has CCC failed to implement even one meaningful democratic reform to ensure the elections are free and fair? Worse still, why is CCC gifting Zanu PF all these vote rigging bonuses?
@ Prof Ndarukwa
“I do not agree with all who ask for restrictions against their country. All those who agreed to participate in this election knew what was/is in it. If indeed there were no reforms, then they should have boycotted it. This is one of the most peaceful, free and fair elections in the sovereign state of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I wish the incumbent President HE Dr ED Mnangagwa a resounding victory over his opponents.”
The greatest political trick that Zanu PF has pulled was to con Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends into believing they can win elections without implementing even one reform. Even after the MDC was trounced in the 2013 elections and then again in the 2018, they still learned nothing.
Admitted some of the MDC leaders have admitted the sheer futility of participating in flawed elections but greed got the better of them all.
“The (2013) 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 in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
Why Zimbabwe’s so called intelligentsia have gone along with MDC/CCC charade beggars belief. They have the professional qualifications, university degrees and even PhDs but, alas, they lacked the common sense!
@ General Evergreen
“Opposition parties participate in flawed elections to prove who is bigger amongst them not to remove zanu pf. They are still far from it, until they realise that they must unite ku state house is still far away. What i read in Prof Masipula Sithole's book 'Struggle within struggles, that is what is happening in opposition.
They are all greed for power. For instance, what was the reason of destroying the MDC instead of following the constitution. Ingori nyaya yekuti pane aitya kudyiwa, pane aisada kukwikwidzwa. This is why even ccc isina ma structures. Zanu pf rallies tiri kuona all its leadership accompanying the president. Siyanai nenyaya yekunongedzana kuti nhingi akushandiswa ne zanu pf muchida kuwana sympathy.”
Don’t get too excited, Zanu PF leaders are just as greedy and incompetent as those in the opposition. Indeed Zanu PF leaders are worse than those in the opposition. The only reason why Mnangagwa is able to keep some sense of unity in the party is because of patronage, everyone is now beholden to him. “We are the Police, the army, we are everything!” He boasted and he was right. You cannot do anything without clearance from Zanu PF and that means the regime getting a cut!
Corruption is rampant, Mnangagwa is selling the nation’s jewels for a song as we saw in the Al Jazeera Gold Mafia documentary. And some of the looted wealth is now being used to bankroll the regime’s vote rigging juggernaut. The country’s health care and education services have all but collapsed after decades of being starved of funds and yet the regime has squandered US$ 5 billion at least buy votes and bribing officials from chicken and chip for povo to US$ 400 000 for each of the judges.
The opposition are participating in these flawed elections knowing that doing so will only give Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuating the dictatorship. Still, they are hell bent on participating because they are after the few gravy train seats and/or POLAD freebies Zanu PF is offering as bait. Even the country’s opposition parties cannot resist Zanu PF’s corrupting influence no more than ZEC, Police, Judiciary, etc. can!
@ Arthur Mntungwa
“The ZANU-NEHANDA-HUTUSHONA-GUKURAHUNDI Party will never ever run any successful election, economy of country.
Shonas believe in "mwanawekumusha" a cultural practice that is a sure recipe for disaster to any nation state. It's nepotism of the worst kind, where who you know, your relatives matters more than what they can deliver.
Zimbabwe is a total disaster and a shame in the Southern African region. The noisiest country in the region!!”
All your comments have one thing in common, your hatred of the Shonas counter balance by your adoration of the Ndebeles. As far as you are concerned no Shona can do or say anything right just as no Ndebele has ever done anything wrong!
You think you are not a tribalist when in fact you are one of the worst tribalist ever!
Yes maZanu machupeti but what is clever about participating in flawed elections to give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy even after 43 years of rigged elections? Of course it is insane.
This is not a democratic elections but a rat race because the process is so flawed and illegal nothing makes any sense. The stupid and contesting against the insane. MDC/CCC have been conned into believing they can win rigged elections and they swallow the hook, line and sinker and hang on to the oxymoronic nonsense even after 43 years of rigged elections.
Machupeti have prevailed for 43 years and they are certain to do so again this Wednesday 23 August!
What the nation needs is to implement the democratic reforms so there is meaningful debate and democratic competition. The present political system is so stifling only Machupeti and insane can thrive. We need to drain the sewage pond and fill it with clean water is we want quality fish, competent leaders!
How long are we going to allow these rat races; whether Machupeti or Mapenzi get into power is a matter of indifference!
@ Taona
You do not want to hear that Zanu PF is rigging these elections and that CCC are participating out of greed because you do not want to hear CCC criticised. I will say it out loud because I care more about ending the insanity of rigged elections than about massaging your misplaced egotistic foolishness!
@ Taona
“Participation will make ZANU PF change because they have realised kuti majority need change.”
You have been told a thousand times that these elections are so flawed and illegal your participation will change nothing all it will do is give Zanu PF legitimacy. Of course it is insane to keep participating only to perpetuate the dictatorship.
Even after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections you still believe in the oxymoronic nonsense of winning rigged elections!
Yes it is Zanu PF that is rigging the elections but we must stop the morons who are participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy.
The morons who have traded the right to free, fair and credible elections because they conned to believe they can win rigged elections!
Before independence, the black majority had no vote, period; and so the fight was for the right to vote. Zanu PF has short changed the people by granting them the vote on paper but not in practice by denying them a meaningful vote in free, fair and credible elections.
The MDC/CCC leaders are conniving with Zanu PF in denying the people a meaningful vote by selling the false narrative the nation can still get change by winning in rigged elections. MDC/CCC are selling this falsehood to hide the fact the sold out by failing to implement reforms and to hide their greed in participating in the flawed elections.
After participating in flawed elections for 43 years and failing to get change what the people need above all else to to think why they have failed to get change all these years. Man is a creature of reason and rational thinking and when a nation starts to behave like a herd of wildebeest it is most disconcerting. Participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for 43 years is insane!
@ Temboman
You are not objecting to hearing that Zanu PF is rigging the elections and CCC are participating out of greed. What you are objecting to is that it is true and you cannot bear hearing the truth! You prefer to hear that CCC is winning big. I am not here to tell you what you want to hear but what you MUST hear! I have a hammer to hammer it into your thick head!
@ Cliff
“Tongomira here takadaro tichiti Zanu inorigger. It will not stop Zanupf to go ahead with its polad parties for the race. Let Zanupf run for the money ....when CCC is in the race.”
So which is the important task that CCC leaders are performing here by participating in these flawed elections:
giving Zanu PF legitimacy and getting their few gravy train seats reward being offered as bait
stop Madhuku and others winning the few gravy train seats on offer as bait by winning the seats themselves. The fact that by participating they are giving Zanu PF legitimacy in this case is just incidental, the primary purpose is stopping Madhuku and company getting the gravy train seats..
It is interesting to note just how many people are so naive and gullible they actually believe CCC are doing the nation a great favour by participating in these flawed elections. The smoke screen disappear when you ask the same idiots was MDC doing the nation a favour too when they failed to implement even one reform during the GNU?
MDC leaders failed to implement even one reform during the GNU for the same reasons they are participating in these flawed and illegal elections - greed and breath-taking incompetence.
@ Goodman Musariri
“Penzura shuwa kubvisa muromo wegidi chokwadi🤷🏿♂️
Kana mumasango tinodzokera.”
You had the opportunity to implement reforms during the GNU and you failed to implement even one token reform. You have been warned that it is sheer folly participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and you refused to listen. Now you reaching for a gun! How stupid is that!
The liberation war did not bring good governance, what makes think the next war will?
The last military coup did not bring good governance what makes you think the next coup will?
EU Chief Observer Fabio Massimo Castaldo says he is amazed by state media claims his observer mission was keen to interfere with Zimbabwe's electoral processes to try and discredit next Wednesday's poll.
A state newspaper on Friday accused the observer mission of engaging in inappropriate conduct such as buying gifts for journalists so as to influence negative reportage about the Zimbabwe vote.
In a statement he issued soon after touching down in Zimbabwe to lead his team Saturday, Castaldo said allegations of bias made against his mission were fabricated.
"The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) is astounded by the defamatory and malicious accusations made in an article, published in local Zimbabwean media yesterday (Friday).
"These allegations are based on unsubstantiated rumors and entirely fabricated.
"The EU EOM and its observers do not engage in inappropriate activities, nor does the EU EOM interfere in the process.
"The EU EOM adheres to a strict code of conduct," he said.
Everybody knows that Zanu PF is a regime that has no respect for the rule of law and the truth and thrives on being very aggressive, manipulative and is totally dishonest.
The EU election observers judged the 2018 elections as failing to meet internationally accepted standards. They made 23 reform recommendations and these 2023 elections are going ahead without even one token reform implemented. It is hard to see how the EU will judge these elections any differently. Zanu PF has to discredit the EU ahead of time and this will do very nicely thank you!
Any black Zimbabwean who has dared to criticise Zanu PF will tell you they have been called “Uncle Tom”, threatened and a lot worse. The EU observes are have a taste of what we have lived under for 43 years and counting!
Attack is the best form of defence and in the case of Zanu PF the attack in nothing short of black mail.
Zanu PF is fearful the EU Election Observer report is go0ing to be as damning as the 2018 report and so the regime is blackmailing the EU ahead of their report.
Welcome to Zimbabwe! EU is having a taste of what we have lived under for 43 years and counting!
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-234628.html
@ Chickenbrest
“Willbert, you should be mature enough not to be so arrogant like this, Try to be mature and leave the dead to bury their dead, but If you are dead like what you seem to be then you will be buried too. I expect new ideas not these rotten ones which you have been dishing since the start of this group.
HAUSVODI!”
You say a lot without saying much.
“Yes maZanu machupeti but what is clever about participating in flawed elections to give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy even after 43 years of rigged elections? Of course it is insane,” I said.
Please say WHY you think that is arrogant, rotten and I should be ashamed of myself?
All you are interested in if attacking the messenger to silence the message. Of course it is insane to keep participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. You are one of those hell bent on participating and think you can bamboozle me to join in your insanity by calling me arrogant, rotten, etc. Your stupidity knows no bounds.
The insanity of participating in flawed elections, a rat race in which the nation has to choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Machupeti vs Mapenzi. As to who will prevail Machupeti will have to be really stupid given the countless opportunity Zanu PF has to rig not that it would have made a world of difference in terms of the quality of government as the CCC government will be a mediocre one at best!
@ Boston
“Monkey dressed in yellow celebrating!”
If these elections were free and fair Mnangagwa will lose to a donkey if it was the only alternative. MDC/CCC have lost in the past because the elections are NOT free and fair. Zanu PF is rigging these 2023 elections.
So if MDC/CCC leaders had any common sense they would have implement the reforms to stop the rigging. Common sense is not so common especially when one is blinded by greed!
@ Nigel
Do you serious expect Zanu PF to lose an election in which there is no verified voters' roll, CCC has no election agents in many PS, CCC have a useless voters' roll, etc., etc.? Chamisa and company are participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the sake of the few gravy train seats and/or POLAD freebies. Chamisa has been campaigning for the Leader of the Opposition post complete with the ministerial perks!
This is a rat race between Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Machupeti Vs Mapenzi! Who wins is a matter of indifference! Zimbabwe is a failed state and this rat race will not change that simple reality.
Of course, if you do not know the difference between a free and fair elections this is a democratic elections not a rat race. This is democratic choice between Mnangagwa vs Chamisa, Zanu PF vs CCC, with the certain of a democratically accountable and competent government regardless who wins.
@ Tondoro
“Hautodi kuti nyika ibudirire kuti uramba uyine power kuhama dzako netwumari twaunatwo twaurikukweshera misana yemambuya ikoko.”
Insanity is a mental illness and not a physical illness which the patient can self diagnose. You have participated in these flawed elections, so flawed there is no verified voters’ roll, there is wanton violence, etc. Zanu PF has rigged to maintain its iron grip on power. You have been participating to give legitimacy to Zanu PF because you are too dum to realise these are NOT free, fair and credible elections.
Indeed, you are so dum you have been conned into giving up reforms and free elections on the understanding CCC have strategies to win rigged elections. Even after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections you still hoping for a different result.
How anyone can be so shallow, thick and slow they do not realise, even after 43 years of rigged elections, that in trading in the reforms and free elections for winning rigged elections they traded gold for fools’ gold!
@ Boston
It is nonsense to keep complaining that we cannot implement the reforms because Zanu PF controls everything and yet when MDC had the opportunity to do so during the GNU they failed to implement even one reform. Like is or not CCC are participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the same reasons they failed to implement reforms during the GNU. You can bury your head in the sand and refuse to accept these political realities, facts will not change.
Those who were in the GNU admit the sheer guilty of participating in these flawed elections and that it is greed that rules the opposition roost.
“The (2013) 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 in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
People have a right to meaningful free, fair and credible elections. These are flawed and illegal elections so it is nonsense to talk of “let people exercise their right!” Do rural voters being frogmarched to attend Zanu PF rallies and then to vote exercising their right?
Which part of by participating you give “the process credibility” and thus Zanu PF legitimacy are you failing to understand? If you participate in flawed elections knowing fully well that they are flawed then you cannot complain after the event.
These are NOT democratic elections but a rat race of Tweedledee vs Tweedledum, Machupeti vs Mapenzi. The very fact that you don’t even know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections, in this day and age, speaks volumes of you.
No wonder Zimbabwe is a failed state, we really have some really dum people! Fcuk me!
@ Boston
It is nonsense to keep complaining that we cannot implement the reforms because Zanu PF controls everything and yet when MDC had the opportunity to do so during the GNU they failed to implement even one reform. Like is or not CCC are participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the same reasons they failed to implement reforms during the GNU. You can bury your head in the sand and refuse to accept these political realities, facts will not change.
Those who were in the GNU admit the sheer guilty of participating in these flawed elections and that it is greed that rules the opposition roost.
“The (2013) 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 in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
People have a right to meaningful free, fair and credible elections. These are flawed and illegal elections so it is nonsense to talk of “let people exercise their right!” Do rural voters being frogmarched to attend Zanu PF rallies and then to vote exercising their right?
Which part of by participating you give “the process credibility” and thus Zanu PF legitimacy are you failing to understand? If you participate in flawed elections knowing fully well that they are flawed then you cannot complain after the event.
These are NOT democratic elections but a rat race of Tweedledee vs Tweedledum, Machupeti vs Mapenzi. The very fact that you don’t even know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections, in this day and age, speaks volumes of you.
No wonder Zimbabwe is a failed state, we really have some really dum people! Fcuk me!
@ Sherps
Stop coming up with outrageous and pathetic excuses why MDC failed to implement even one democratic reform during the GNU. How did the army, Police or CIO stop MDC leaders implementing the reforms during the GNU?
Even now, with the benefit of hindsight, you still have no clue MDC sold out big time by failing to implement even one reform during the GNU. No wonder the country is a failed state, how can democracy, power to the people, work when the people can never hold those in power to account because they are so dum they don’t know their left hand from the right!
So you think by pretending these elections are free and fair you will make them so? The insanity of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and opposition a few gravy train seats and/or POLAD freebies must and will be tackled head-on. We have some people with really thick heads, you would think the message has got through, clearly not. It must hammered home and I have the sludge hammer for it.
@ Phidza
“Hameno kuti chikoro chaakaenda sei chisina kumudzidzisa to drop an urgument when noone buys into it.”
John the Baptist preached his one message of repentance for many more years than I have done it was the right message and so remained relevant.
As long as we continue to hold flawed and illegal elections, so flawed there is no verified voters’ roll, rural folk are frogmarched to attend rallies, etc. then the message of implementing the democratic reforms will remain relevant and will be hammered into you thick head!
There are some really thick heads but I have the tool for the job - a sludge hammer. You will buy into the reality that it is folly to participate in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy and the opposition a few gravy train seats and/ or POLAD freebies! Watch this space!
If elections were free and fair a donkey would beat Mnangagwa what more Chamisa a human being! Is The Chamisa lose these elections to Mnangagwa on Wednesday 23 August 2023 the result will confirm three things:
a) that these elections were rigged
b) it will speak volumes about just how hopelessly incompetent Chamisa must be because he did not even have the common sense to implement even one token reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections in 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU!
c) that Zimbabweans have knack for putting our political leaders on pedestals and worship them as infallible demigods. It will speak volumes of our foolishness for following these corrupt and breathtakingly incompetent MDC/CCC leaders blindly to this day!
Zimbabwean elections are not democratic, they are a rat race, Masichupiti vs Mapenzi, Tweedledee vs Tweedledum. CCC leader are participating in these flawed elections to give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed and their supporters think they are smart when in fact they are dum.
The result of this Wednesday's rat race is a matter of indifference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fIw4Bbr99Q
“BULAWAYO – The leader of the opposition party, the CCC, Nelson Chamisa, has told his supporters that he will announce the results of the August 23 elections by August 24, regardless of the provisions of the Electoral Act, which prohibits anyone from announcing results before they are declared by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Chamisa made this statement at a rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo today (video above), where he claimed that his party had deployed agents to all 12,374 polling stations and would have the means to tabulate results.
This is not the first time that Chamisa has challenged the authority of ZEC over election results. In 2018, he contested the presidential election results that gave President Emmerson Mnangagwa a narrow victory with 50.8% of the vote, while Chamisa got 44.3%. Chamisa alleged that the election was rigged. He, however, did not have polling agents at all polling stations despite earlier saying that he did.”
The EU had 246 man election observer team in 2018 and they condemned the election but more significantly produced a detailed report why complete with 23 reform recommendations. Sadly these 2023 elections are going ahead although not even one reform was implemented.
Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Zanu PF is rigging these elections just as readily as it rigged the 2018 elections.
The promise by Chamisa to announce the election results by 24 August if ZEC has not done so is ill advised, to say the least. In 2018 MDC A did not have election agents in 544 Polling Stations and the signs are the number will be even bigger this year. The only reason Chamisa would do this when he clearly does not have all the PS returns is to prime his supporters, ready for the street fight!
It is an outrage that CCC is participating in these flawed elections knowing Zanu PF is rigging the elections and that by participating they are giving the regime legitimacy. And with the damage done CCC is then trying to wrestle Zanu PF out of office by staging street protests!
@ Godfrey
Photo of a mango tree laden with ripe yellow mangoes. “Uchaona rime richitemha mbishi!”
It is nice to be a simpleton, everything in life is simple and straight forward. The concept that elections can be rigged is so incomprehensible the simpletons has completely rejected for that very reason - its incomprehensible. Even after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections talk to them about Zanu PF rigging these elections and they look back at you with blank faces. You might as well be talking Chinese!
The Greeks were right, democracy will only work if the people are educated so they understand the issues at stake and are diligent to hold those in public office to account. If someone does not understand the difference between free and fair elections and rigged elections, it is not rocket science, it is down right irresponsible to give such a person the vote!
If Zimbabweans were to get a healthy and functioning democracy tomorrow, we clearly are struggling to create one ourselves; by the end of the next day many ordinary people will have lost most of their freedoms and rights as they are lured to join autocratic political parties masquerading as democratic parties. The new tyrants will tell the people he is denying them their freedoms and rights to safeguard against infiltration or some such hen’s teeth story and they will accept it.
If we want to remain simpletons then we must necessary accept that Zimbabwe will never be a healthy and functioning democracy. Zimbabwe is a failed state because we have simpletons who keep participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. They are participating in these 2023 elections thinking voting is as simple as kicking a mango from a tree, not knowing thousands will be running around like headless chickens, other will be frogmarched to vote, etc.
“20th August 2023
By Wezhira Munya
A member of the Chivi South Citizens Coalition for Change [CCC], Mr. Willmore Gwarinda, has filed a police report against Zanu PF members who vandalized his house on the 18th of August, 2023.
[See video showing the vandalized windows]
The Zanu PF members destroyed all the windows of the house. The incident of violence occurred in Ward 25, Pedzisai Village.”
How many similar cases and worse are happening up and down the land and are never reported? How can we pretending this is a free, fair and credible elections or delude ourselves that Chamisa has indeed plugged all the Zanu PF vote rigging loopholes?
The opposition leaders know that these elections are flawed, that participating will only give Zanu PF legitimacy and still the participate regardless because they also know that Zanu PF is offering a few gravy train seats and the POLAD freebies as bait.
It is for the people to wake up to the reality the MDC/CCC leaders have abandoned implementing reforms and free elections during the 2008 GNU and have settled for giving Zanu PF legitimacy for a share of the spoils of power. CCC have been running with povo hare by day and hunting with the Zanu PF hounds by night!
The people must go back to claiming their right to meaningful elections, to implementing reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections. They are being conned to give up the right to free and fair elections for the dubious hope of winning rigged elections. It is insane to trade gold for fool’s gold especially after 43 years of rigged elections!
@ Don’t forget to vote
“This guy is barking akagara kumateresi he is not even in Africa ari ku UK... All he is all about is one thing and we really understand your point but ziva kuti we don't take your advices we are going to vote and hatiregi even you say "Ccc leaders are participating in these flawed elections"... You run away from Zimbabwe 20 years ago for greener pastures and you never open one organization that will help your fellow Zimbabweans that are suffering now you are coming here telling us what to do... You OLD WHACK BITCH... You Mukori you are so dilusion... You and the old thugs of ZANU we put you in same category because you think people are so stupid when they are voting.... BY THE TIME YOU CAME BACK HOME YOU WILL BE OLD LIKE MUGABE AND NO ONE WILL APPRECIATE YOU.”
After all the fuming and frothing even you cannot deny Zanu PF is rigging these elections and CCC are participating out of greed!
It has not escaped me that there are many on this platform and others who have genuinely failed to grasp the reality that these elections are flawed and that participating to give Zanu PF legitimacy is insane. We do have more than our fair share of mentally challenged citizens in Zimbabwe.
It is equally true that there are many Zanu PF double agents who pretending to be insane and are campaigning for people to participate no matter what because it is in Zanu PF’s interest that people participate and the regime gets legitimacy. Zanu PF will not want to spook the voters and tell them Zanu PF is rigging the elections and so what better way of achieving the same objective than masquerading as a diehard CCC supporter!
@ ED
“Mr Mukori I've been following you and I understand your point but are you considering that they are many contestants on same election. Are they going to quit because chamisa and his CCC has withdrawn?”
If you truly believe that the CCC are participating in these flawed elections out of greed it is a really foolish argument to say they should continued since they are not the only ones especially when it is clear participating will not only give Zanu PF legitimacy but perpetuating the suffering of ordinary people.
The very fact that there are many ordinary Zimbabweans participating in these flawed elections is because they are naive enough to believe the lie CCC has plugged all the Zanu PF vote rigging holes. Only the certified mentally retarded would participating in these elections knowing doing so will perpetuate his/her suffering.
It is shocking the number of seemingly sane people who have been justifying CCC’s greed - other than those aspiring for a share of the spoils!
This is just too simplistic. In America your vote does count in Zimbabwe it does not count and it is insane to keep pretending otherwise especially after 43 years of rigged election.
CCC and the rest in the opposition camp are participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy for the sake of the few gravy train seats and POLAD freebies on offer as bait. If we are serious about ending this curse of rigged elections and bad governance then we must demand the implementation of the reforms and restore our right to free, fair and credible elections BEFORE elections.
Pretending that Zimbabwean elections are free and fair is not going to get us out of this hell-hole.
@ Godfrey
“Every Garikayi and Tambudzai Simpleton from Ruzevha Growth Point to the City knows Zanu rigs
The message to preach has shifted to the New Testament one on how to get saved
The ‘Zizi harina nyanga AND Kufira mafufu segonzo’ messages seem to have caught on as well.
Only those benefiting from bad governance pretend to believe otherwise.”
Those who are caught is the rat race, participating in flawed elections hoping against reason that they will get change, even after 43 years of rigged elections, always find some straw to justify their insanity.
Giving up one’s right to free and fair elections in favour of winning rigged elections is not new at all, Zimbabwe has never ever held free, fair and credible elections. Never!
Chamisa promised that “MDC A has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!” That was in 2018 and he was lying. He said he plugged all Zanu PF vote rigging loophole this year; it is self evident, he is lying.
To believe that we can have good governance out of this chaos, of meaningful change out of rigged elections and of rat races is insane.
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