This decision is unfortunate and ill-advised in many ways.
The first reason that makes the MDC (Tsvangirai)’s calls for protest a bad idea is that they seem to have made this decision without consultations with their counterparts in the struggle, who are MDC (Mutambara) and members of the Dawn Project under Simba Makoni. A uniting of these forces and speaking with one voice to me seems essential, especially considering the fact that votes garnered by these forces in the House of Assembly make it necessary for them to establish common ground and an effective alliance against the opposition Zanu (PF) party. Professor Jonathan Moyo’s input should also be sort.
I think it would augur well for all the political parties to, from now, on co-ordinate and hold press conferences together to issue statements and show unity of purpose in demanding that the people’s wishes be respected and that results be announced so that the nation can forge ahead with the important business of rebuilding the nation. It is important for the two MDCs and Simba Makoni’s people to find the best way to effectively find a way to challenge ZEC and Zanu (PF)’s’s attitude towards both the election results and subsequent actions like vote recounting and the possible election run-off between Tsvangirai and Mugabe.
People won’t heed the call
The second reason why I think mass action is ill-advised is because of my lack of conviction that Zimbabweans will heed the call for this type of action. Mass action has long ceased to be a popular option with Zimbabweans. Whatever form this action takes, be it staying away from work or going to the streets to protest the potential muzzling of the people’s vote, Zimbabweans are unlikely to take heed of calls to participate.
Unemployment is reported to be at about 80 per cent. This figure only means that about 20 per cent of Zimbabweans are formally employed. Most of the remaining 80 per cent are not unemployed but are really informally or self-employed. These people are unlikely to stay away from work as they stand to lose when they don’t work. Who compensates them, the MDC?
It is also understandable for people not to flow onto the streets in protest because of the very real and very visible riot police presence on the streets of Zimbabwe. Some of us are, quite frankly, intimidated by the two grey tanks that are stationed in the Harare Gardens. I don’t know if these are the ones that shoot volumes of water at demonstrators. All I know is that I do not wish to find out.
It’s all very well for members of political parties and organisations like NCA to take part in street protests. They have resources that take care of their medical and legal needs whenever necessary, but what about the average Zimbabwean? Who will bail them out of jail or pay their medical bills if they are injured during these demonstrations? Who will look after orphaned children?
Realists not cowards
It’s time for political parties to realize that Zimbabweans are not cowards. Zimbabweans are realists. It is not practical for most of us to roam the streets in unending protest against a government with no conscience. We cannot afford the loss of revenue during these protests. We would rather go on with the business of surviving in an economic environment that is brutal. The truth is most of us are living from hand to mouth and can therefore ill afford staying away’.
My suggestion to the parties pushing for the release of not just any presidential results but authentic results would be to gear themselves for a run-off. Educate the nation and galvanise the electorate to issue the final incontestable red card of his political life to Robert Mugabe. The parties that are against Zanu (PF) should unite in mobilising their supporters to vote for Morgan Tsvangirai in a run-off that seems inevitable even judging by the kind of statements emanating from people like Thabo Mbeki and SADC.
The two MDCs and Simba Makoni should concentrate on putting pressure on SADC and the AU to intervene and help make the run-off free and fair under their election guidelines and in the presence of their peace-keeping force. These bodies should also be pushed to make guarantees that they will force Mugabe to accept his imminent defeat in these polls and oversee the transfer of power to Morgan Tsvangirai when the time comes.
I am happy that Tsvangirai restricted his diplomatic missions of appeal to African states and unions. None of these unions or Robert Mugabe can now make excuses about the MDC appearing to take orders from the imperialists from the west.
If the MDC (Tsvangirai) insists on their planned protests, they should come up with better ideas that the people of Zimbabwe can participate in without unnecessarily putting their lives and livelihood at risk. Otherwise MDC representatives should be prepared to go to the streets themselves and even by themselves to face the riot police.
Educate the nation and galvanise the electorate to issue the final incontestable red card of his political life to Robert Mugabe.
Our demands for concrete action
BY ZIMBABWE CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE
The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance appreciates the efforts of the SADC heads of state to address the Zimbabwean electoral crisis through the Extraordinary Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia.
Before the extraordinary summit meeting, we were astounded by the statement by the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe. This tends to make us doubt the sincerity of SADC leaders to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis justly.
The statement enunciating the efforts and action that SADC intends to take and is proposing is too little and too late to effectively address the post-election crisis faced by the nation of Zimbabwe. The fact that a summit had to be called to discuss failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release results is indicative enough of the gravity of the crisis. There is therefore, need for urgent, concrete and effective regional action to ensure resolution of the electoral crisis and compliance with SADC electoral norms.
The following concrete actions need to be urgently demanded by SADC: That Zimbabwean police stop the arrest of non-military ZEC staff; that Zimbabwean police stop making arbitrary arrests of lawyers and civic activists; that the state media, war veterans and other militias stop fanning the flames of conflict’; that there be an immediate halt to the new farm invasions; that ZEC immediately releases the true presidential results as per the votes cast by Zimbabweans on the 29th March 2008.
In the event that the presidential results show no winner of 50 per cen plus one vote as required by the constitution, they should set up a heads of state team that will mediate between Zanu (PF) and the MDC to set an election run-off timeline; ensure a credible, independent and impartial election management body to replace ZEC that will implement the election run-off without fear and favour and constituted by people acceptable to all parties; ensure that the election run-off is internationally supported, supervised and observed and run under circumstances where Zimbabweans are able to fully and effectively participate in their national affairs in an environment of peace and tranquility, free from intimidation and political violence and retribution, and ensure free access for regional observers including the media during the run-off period until after the results are accepted by the majority.
In the meanwhile, we call upon Zimbabweans to promote peace and be part of nationwide prayer meetings that are being organised by the churches.