Proposed New General Elections: Any Hope for the Future?

By Mbiriyashe Chiratidzo Mungaraza

The post 2008 general election trauma is still haunting the entire majority of Zimbabweans. It was an election marred and characterised by unforeseen violence caused by Zanu PF with their intention to cling on to power until Kingdom come. Many people were beaten, tortured, maimed, and killed while others were left homeless with no hope for the future.

What is particularly worrying is Zanu PF’s belief that they can still win the forthcoming elections. It is still not clear whether these elections will be held any time soon. The truth is that Zanu PF will never relinquish power even if they are defeated. Their (Zanu PF) cronies who have ravaged the country’s economy and massacred innocent civilians will never allow a free and fair election. The truth is that Mugabe’s pensioners are aware that people are fed up with their tactics.

Vote rigging

The entire world is now aware that Zanu PF has been winning elections through rigging and violence. Mugabe and his allies would rather cling on the dysfunctional unity government rather than face humiliation. Despite the malfunctioning of the unity government, Mugabe is still adamant that he can still win back the hearts of electorate although he is reluctant to share power accordingly. He is still dictating the the pace and worse through the indiscriminate persecuting of his opponents.

If MDC really joined this Unity Government to save the country and its suffering people, then now is the right time to press hard for fresh, free and fair internationally supervised elections. People are geared up to defeat Zanu PF. There is no doubt Zanu PF is now very unpopular.

Ideally, MDC should be in the driving seat since they have the majority of seats in parliament but Mugabe and his thugs are still using their unscrupulous dictatorial tactics to maintain a stranglehold on the reigns of power. The way Mugabe is handling this unity government leaves a lot to be desired. There is no need for Tsvangirai to keep on compromising. It is now high time he should press for new elections. Zimbabweans have suffered enough and people’s rights continue to be abused with impunity, living in perpetual fear of their brutal leaders.

Economy

The economic recovery of the country is being jeopardised by the tensions within this so called unity government. The three parties involved are pulling in different directions threatening the already fragile coalition government with collapse. To worsen matters, Mugabe’s policy to grab 51 percent shareholding from any foreign investment makes Zimbabwe not only an unattractive destination for foreign investment, but also a no go area for those who respect the rule of law and property rights.

The longer Tsvangirai stays in this unity goverment, the harder it will be for him turn things around for the better. Notwithstanding the MDC’s involvement, Mugabe’s blood thirst rag tag army of party thugs and war veterans continue harass and brutalise defenceless civilians. It is high time that the MDC make a bold stand and force Mugabe to account by ensuring that a new constitution that guarantees free and fair elections is in place sooner rather than later.

International Observers

Previous elections have not been free and fair at all. They were mared by violence and the election observers were very incompetent. The Electoral Commision whose mandate is to supervise the conduct of the elections is largely pro-Zanu PF. So if ever a free and fair election is going to take place then, International monitors and observers are supposed to be involved at the earliest possible time. The current electoral system favours Zanu PF and it gives its supporters a free reign to cause mayhem with impunity.

As it stands, Mugabe will never support free and fair elections to take place because that will have disastrous consequences for his Party. He knows that once that is allowed to happen, this will mark the beginning of the end of his reign paving the way for a refreshingly better political
dispensation with safeguards for human rights and the much needed rule of law. The big question is; Can there be free and fair elections in Zimbabwe with the geriatric leader at the helm? Only time will tell.

Mbiriyashe Chiratidzo Mungaraza is a Zimbabwean based in Leicester

HAT News is precluded from expressing a corporate view: any opinions expressed are therefore those of the author.