We make this call in the wake of recent statements made by Zanu (PF) negotiator and senior member, Patrick Chinamasa, and the party’s spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo.
In essence, the two have publicly stated that there is no way in which the generals will accept a victory by MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, whom they accuse of being a puppet of western governments.
What emerges from their separate utterances in interviews with the international media is that they are deliberately trying to influence the minds of voters by raising the likelihood of a coup, and therefore chaos, in the event that the electorate throws its weight behind Tsvangirai.
It is a systematic way of engendering fear in voters. Obviously, Zimbabweans will cringe at the prospect of a coup. So they would be cowed either to vote for Zanu (PF) simply in order to forestall civil strife, or they might just stay home on polling day.
The statements by Chinamasa and Gumbo, coming as they do against a background of similar threats by the security chiefs themselves, have the capacity to adversely affect the process of democratic polls.
While election dates have not yet been agreed and the formal electoral processes have not begun, there is every reason to believe that the statements by these top Zanu (PF) officials will injure the manner and conduct of elections.
This is why ZEC should immediately sit down and devise means of dealing with this malaise. As the national body responsible for the holding of polls in a fair, free, professional and transparent manner, ZEC has an obligation to act on such intransigencies as the ones displayed by Chinamasa and Gumbo.
Turning a deaf ear to the two’s utterances will perpetuate the undesirable culture of impunity established by Zanu (PF) over the past 30 years. If nothing happens to Chinamasa and Gumbo now, what grounds do we have to believe that others will not do the same in the future?
There is need for the electoral body to be seen to take action, as a pre-emptive intervention. At the very least it should issue a public statement condemning these utterances, and warn politicians and their parties against making inflammatory statements in the future.
Proceeding from the Electoral Act, which spells out the functions and purposes of ZEC, there is need for political players to abide within a given electoral code of conduct, even before elections are underway.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga