Whether its an Ignatious Chombo orchestrated meeting of chiefs under the cover of darkness, or an indoctrination session with a Brigadier General, Zanu (PF)s message is loud and clear President Robert Mugabe for life.
As the President feels his grip on power loosening, attempts to move traditional leaders over to the dark side have mounted. As was evidenced in Kariba this week at the Council of Chiefs annual retreat, efforts to remain apolitical will be squashed by Zanu (PF) who are demanding their allegiance. Mugabes party want to use chiefs as pawns in their dangerous game of intimidation and control in order to guarantee votes.
After lining the Chiefs pockets with flashy cars, Mugabes life presidency plan was endorsed by all eight provinces. What he cannot do with force, he will do with funds. Elsewhere in the country Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba told traditional leaders that a war credential was the only qualification needed to rule Zimbabwe and that the army would fight tooth and nail to ensure that Mugabe remained in power.
With the army and traditional leaders in Mugabes pocket, what chance does the common man have of exercising his right to support whichever party he so chooses?
Rumours of mounting violence ahead of the proposed elections were this week confirmed in a report release by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace. The poor timing of this against the backdrop of a decision by the UK Border Agency to ship hundreds of asylum seekers home is tragic. What will they come home to? Houses being razed to the ground? Family members disappearing? Late night pungwes? If the run up to the elections in 2008 is anything to go by then it will be all that and more.
Zanu (PF) have nothing to lose is how officials from CCJP put it. Zimbabwe has everything to lose if there is a repeat of the election tragedy of 2008 and Mugabe emerges, by hook and crook, as the leader of the country yet again. We have our economy to lose, the lives of the fearless few who are willing to rise up against Zanu (PF), our educated who will never return and the millions who struggle daily and will never benefit from investment in the health sector or local businesses.
The various reports and fact finding missions that have revealed the true state of affairs in Zimbabwe need to be heeded so that a peace-keeping force can be deployed and international observers can ensure that the rightful winner of free and fair elections becomes the leader of our nation.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga