"The (Zanu PF) politburo is unanimous that elections should be held this year,” party spokesman Rugare Gumbo told the nation last week.
We must say we perfectly understand the reasoning – albeit not exactly sound – behind their stance. The best option for Zanu (PF) is to have its ageing leader contest, and (they hope), win elections this year before his health deteriorates any further.
The calculation is that a fresh mandate from the people would give the 87-year-old Mugabe more time to manage the thorny issue of his succession and make sure Zanu (PF) does not disintegrate upon his departure from power – either voluntarily or by an act of nature.
We know too that Zanu (PF) remains an undemocratic movement, set in its arrogant ways, violent and totally convinced that its leading role in the liberation struggle gives it the right to rule Zimbabwe forever – regardless of what the electorate may wish.
But even then we would never have expected Mugabe and his party to openly clamour for a re-run of the same mindless violence that left at least 200 MDC supporters dead and displaced thousands of others from their homes in 2008 – just so they can tighten their grip on the wealth of our country, and our very lives!
One does not need to be a rocket scientist, to use the tired cliché, to know that anyone calling for elections this year in the absence of a new constitution, when the voters’ roll is such a mess, when security forces remain partisan, when the rule of law and human rights are being trampled upon, is simply calling for a repeat of the bloody 2008 electoral fiasco.
Zanu (PF)’s call for elections this year take the party’s reckless disregard for the welfare of Zimbabweans and for human life to new lows.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga