My enterprising aunt, Monica Rukanda thought she could make a quick buck out of the elections. She bet me one billion dollars to my one hundred thousand that Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were going to be the winners. I told her that I admired her entrepreneurial acumen but politely let her know that I am not stupid.
It is indeed an insult to Zimbabweans to even imagine that they would vote for Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF after what they have done to our beautiful country. Anyone asking why Zimbabweans would want to get rid of their government and its revolutionary leader should surely know the proverbial answer. It’s the economy, stupid.
Once the breadbasket of the region, we can now not even feed ourselves. We are not even ashamed to follow the productive farmers, we chased away to Zambia, to beg them to sell us maize so that we can survive. Once the pride of Africa economically, we are now a pitied laughing stock with the highest rate of inflation in the world over 100,000%.
Once an efficient exporter of tobacco and food to all corners of the world, we are now exporting our most intelligent and qualified young men and women to develop and enrich other countries. Once relatively free, even under the yoke of colonialism, we are now suffering under the heavy boot of a brutal and intrusive state machine. What is galling is that this machine is not manned by whites but by fellow black people. Would Zimbabweans then miss this golden opportunity to rid themselves once and for all from the iron-grip of their current rulers? No, sir.
Given President Mugabe, himself, knows that he is not going to be re-elected. He is an intelligent man and like king Belshazzar can see the writing on the wall, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. The writing is plain enough that unlike Belshazzar he does not need a Daniel to interpret for him.
Zimbabweans at large are really not interested about who, in the opposition, wins the election. All they want to know is that the old man with the iron fist and his party of violence have gone for good. What is frightening them is Mugabe’s words that he will not step down even if the opposition wins. This is more sinister because the leaders of the armed forces are also on record as saying that they will not salute any president as their commander-in-chief except Robert Mugabe.
Leading members of the ruling ZANU PF party are also openly saying that they would like Robert Mugabe to rule for the rest of his life. They are saying that according to African culture a chief rules until he dies. After years of proudly telling the population that they brought democracy to Zimbabwe through the barrel of a gun, they are now saying democracy is a colonial imposition on Zimbabwean culture.
The philosophy or ideology of the life presidency was recently reinforced by none other than the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. This was enthusiastically reported on by the government mouthpiece the Herald. Gaddafi is said to have encouraged Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Museveni of Uganda to remain in power until they have solved problems facing their countries or die while still in power. We should tell the colonialists not to preach to us their religions. This is Africa and we have our own way of seeing and doing things, he said.
As people wait anxiously for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to announce the full results of the harmonized elections all manner of speculations and rumours abound. These are not emanating, as is traditionally thought, from all ladies gossiping at markets and water wells only. They are even spread by trusted international broadcasters like BBC and CNN. This is understandable because they are not able to get first-hand news. Most western broadcasters and reporters are not allowed to enter Zimbabwe. Those who do enter the country clandestinely and will be arrested if apprehended.
Soon after the elections it was rumoured that the President’s sister Sabina Mugabe had died and that President Mugabe had fled to Malaysia with his family. It is now said that Sabina is alive and was heard speaking on radio. However, the rumour of Mugabe being in Malaysia still persists. He has not been seen in public since he cast his vote on 29 March.
Another rumour is that President Mbeki of South Africa had brokered a deal between Tsvangirai and Mugabe and that Mugabe had conceded defeat. However, it is said those army leaders who had committed atrocities and human rights abuses would have none of it. They would like Mugabe to rule forever in order to ensure their safety. They are afraid that if Mugabe relinquishes power they would be arrested and be sent to the International Court of Justice at the Hague.
Zimbabwe’s civil society is showing great concern at the delay in the announcement of election results. The Save Zimbabwe Campaign, a network of civil society and church-based groups recently published a statement of concern at the non-announcement of all election results. They said the failure by ZEC to announce the results gives reason to suspect that the electoral process is being manipulated by the government. SZC said it would hold ZEC accountable for any disturbances that may occur as a result of the delay.
A member of groups headed by Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe and including Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights also issued a statement. They voiced concern at the failure by ZEC to announce the results timeously. They said, Of significant concern are the unconfirmed rumours that allegedly come from the security branches of government that the government is preparing to declare a state of emergency after announcing inaccurate results. This is consistent with the threats by the security chiefs before the elections that they are not prepared to accept the election results if President Mugabe and ZANU PF lose the elections.
In their conclusion to the statement, the civil society organizations implore SADC and AU heads of state and government to urgently exert necessary diplomatic pressure to force President Mugabe to do the right thing by letting democracy to take its course.The Christian Alliance, a church based coalition which has long been campaigning and praying for the upholding of human rights and freedom in Zimbabwe, is preparing to send delegations to the chairman of SADC, President Levi Mwanawasa of Zambia, chairman of the AU, President Kikwete of Tanzania and to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. The delegations will plead with these leaders to persuade the government of Zimbabwe to comply with the SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections, which they are signatory to. The Christian Alliance spokesperson, Rev. Lucky Moyo, said, The tension in this country has escalated and this could pose a security risk not only to Zimbabwe but to the region, as a whole. It is in this context that we are pleading with SADC to intervene urgently for our country is now hanging on the edge of the precipice.
Zimbabweans are indeed facing perilious times. We really need to pray for calm and that our leaders both in and out of government will act responsibly to make for continued peace.
Post published in: Opinions