Laws of the land were reversed by presidential decree just days before the elections- to suit Mugabe.
Agreements reached between the MGC and Zanu (PF) under the Thabo Mbeki -brokered negotiations were reversed by presidential decree- to favour Mugabe.
The negotiators spent months discussing various aspects of the conduct of the elections. Mbeki pronounced that agreements had been concluded and would be implemented in a number of areas. Quite frankly, nothing that was agreed has been implemented by Zanu (PF). Fooled-yet again! The entire negotiation process, the fruit of almost a year of Mbeki’s much-touted quiet diplomacy has been rendered null and void at the stroke of Mugabe’s pen.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s campaign was disrupted by the arrest of his helicopter pilot and later released without charge – pure harassment – while Mugabe had no fewer than three choppers at his disposal. In the crucial last days before the poll, Tsvangirai’s movements were hamstrung – to Mugabe’s advantage.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the SADC protocol on elections. Yet even the most basic standards, which include things like access to the media by all parties, access to polling stations by election agents and observers, police proximity to polling stations, have been flagrantly disregarded by the Mugabe regime.
The printing of the ballot papers has been shrouded in secrecy and confusion. Inside sources say duplicate ballots have been printed – five million of them! This can only be for fraudulent purposes and destroys all credibility and trust in the electoral process as administered by the openly partisan Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
By forging ahead with the elections in this manner, Zanu (PF) has made it evident that they fear free and fair elections. They have seen the writing on the wall – unmistakably evidence by the paltry turnout at Mugabe’s rallies in comparison to the many thousands who have thronged those of Tsvangirai. Schools and shops have been closed and children and the aged herded into stadiums around the country to hear Mugabe rant and rave against the British.
Mugabe is yesterday’s man. Gone are the days when Zimbabweans in their tens of thousands would walk half a day to hear and see their great hero.
As for the observers from China, Russia, Iran etc- countries not known for holding free and fair elections themselves – we say shame on you. Shame for being willing collaborators in this giant scam to hoodwink the world into believing that credible elections were held in Zimbabwe.
And what of our South African and SADC neighbours – who by their collaboration in propping up Mugabe’s dictatorship have condemned their African brothers and sisters to the lowest life expectancy in the world? They are a disgrace to themselves and to the noble continent of Africa.
Word for Today
The LORD watches over you, the Lord is your shade at the right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by the night. The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:5-8