“There is lack of reforms that risks credible elections,” he said. “We call on President Mnangagwa to act on his pledge for free and fair elections. We ask President Mnangagwa go beyond mere rhetoric and genuine steps to level the playing field for candidates and their parties.
Speaking Thursday in Harare, Mavhinga called for institutional bias to be eliminated.
“A key step would be whether state [owned or controlled] media gives equal coverage to all political parties without bias or favor,” he said. “Zimbabwe’s military and other state security forces have for many years interfered with nation’s political and electoral affairs adversely affecting the right of Zimbabweans to vote for candidates of their choice.”
Elections and the military
Human Rights Watch says its research in May found security forces involved in the electoral process, abusive laws that remain in effect, and violence and intimidation by the ruling party all contribute to an environment that is not conducive to free and fair elections.
HRW said it discovered at least 15 percent of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s leadership is serving or former military officials.
Mnangagwa faces Nelson Chamisa of the country’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, among several other opponents.
The July 30 election will be the first in Zimbabwe’s 38 years of independence without Robert Mugabe, who resigned last November after giving in to military led pressure. Mnangagwa has lifted a ban on Western election observers, but the opposition says that is not good enough.
This week, opposition parties protested the Electoral Commission’s refusal to release the voter roll and said Mnangagwa must have the roll audited if Zimbabwe is to have a credible election.
“President Mnangagwa needs to go beyond mere rhetoric and take genuine steps to level the playing field for all candidates and their parties,” said Dewa Mavhinga, the Southern Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “A key test will be whether state media give equal coverage and access to all political parties without bias or favour.”
Does Mr Mavhinga really believe that even if Zanu PF was to allow equal coverage now, just two months before elections, will be enough to repair the damage inflicted by the over 38 years of bias and downright hostile public media coverage? The shallowness of the comments and demands from our Zimbabwe opposition and civic leaders has not held us back again and again; it is indicative of a nation that has no clue what constitutes free, fair and credible elections. Tyrants like Mugabe and now Mnangagwa have been quick to exploit this weakness for their own selfish gain.
Zanu PF has completely failed to deliver a free and open public media for these elections, a key tenet for free, fair and credible elections; there is no if or but about it, this is crystal clear!
Zanu PF has refused to implement even one reform and it is too late to expect any reforms to be implemented now. These elections are being blatantly rigged and those who cannot see this is because they have their heads buried in the sand!