Anywhere else, a political party led by a frail octogenarian, who is accused of driving a once brilliant economy into the ditch through gross misrule and sheer ignorance about how a modern economy works, wouldnt be so eager for elections. But for President Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF) a performing economy or a record of good governance were never the vote catchers. A performing violence machinery was and will always be the erstwhile liberation movements number one vote winner.
Notice how the crescendo of calls for new elections coming from the Zanu (PF) camp have been matched only by the rising tempo of violence and human rights abuses in many parts of the country.
Pleas from civil society, the business community, ordinary Zimbabweans and parliamentarians — including some from Zanu (PF) — for elections to be postponed until 2013 in order to allow time for badly needed political reforms and for the recovering economy to stabilise have been trampled upon by Mugabe and Zanu (PF)s politburo.
Likewise pleas from South African President Jacob Zuma the SADCs official mediator in Zimbabwes inter-party dialogue for elections to be deferred until a new constitution is in place and political conditions on the ground comply with regional norms and standards for democratic polls have been drowned out by the din of Zanu (PF) war drums.
They have spilt the blood of innocent Zimbabweans before. They can barely wait to begin another orgy of violence, rape, torture and murder all for the sake of an 86-year old mans bizarre ambition to die in office.
The torture camps are being reactivated in the villages across the country. The militia goons and army killer gangs are primed to strike.
Well, grant Zanu (PF) their wish. Let them have the election today, tomorrow, next year or whenever they fancy.
But until we have a truly democratic constitution and all necessary political and security reforms have been implemented and taken root let not the MDC-T, MDC-M, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, ZAPU and all other progressive forces in Zimbabwe not legitimise dictatorship by taking part in any sham poll organised by Zanu (PF) and that faceless body known as the Joint Operations Command (JOC).
The opportunists among us who will always find one reason or another to justify participation in an election in which voters must literally skip over dead bodies on their way to the ballot box must know that the blood of innocent citizens killed in political violence will be as much on the hands of Zanu (PF) as it will be on theirs. History will judge them harshly.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga