Zanu (PF) defies SADC

Zanu (PF) spokesperson Rugare Gumbo told The Zimbabwean this week that the SADC facilitation team’s continued efforts to help usher in a new democratic dispensation were outdated. He dismissed the regional group’s calls for reforms before polls as “undermining Zimbabwe’s sovereignty” and said “We are going ahead with the election despite SADC and other political parties calling for so-called reforms.

Zimbabwe is a sovereign state which runs its own affairs the Zimbabwean way.” He added: “We will conduct elections according to our new constitution which will come into being soon. What SADC is saying about outstanding reforms is mere talk because we are through with all necessary reforms and there is nothing outstanding,” said Gumbo.

Gumbo said the call for reforms before elections has been overtaken by the new constitution, which he said would lay the ground for free and fair polls. He said this made SADC calls for reforms “irrelevant”. There have been repeated calls for all political parties to honour all agreements in the GPA signed by Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations in late 2008 following a disputed presidential run-off.

The regional bloc is on record insisting that the implementation of reforms agreed to in the GPA is critical in order for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections to take place. The two MDCs still insist there is need for security sector, media and electoral reforms.

Suicidal

The Chairperson of the South Africa-based Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Gabriel Shumba, described the Zanu (PF) attitude towards SADC as “suicidal”, adding that the bloc had a written mandate, respected internationally, to oversee electoral processes in Zimbabwe and the region.

“There is still need for oversight by SADC. Remember, SADC has an agreed mandate to ensure credible elections and that will not go away because Zanu (PF) wishes it. In fact, even if MDC-T were to win the next election, there would still be need for SADC,” said Shumba.

The constitution did not bring guarantees of free and fair elections, he said. “There is no guarantee that Zanu (PF) will respect the new constitution and in the event that the securocrats subvert undermine election results during the transitional post-election period, SADC has to come in.”

Zapu spokesperson Mjobisa Noko said Zanu (PF’s) position was misguided. “Zanu (PF’s) talk of proclaiming election dates is mere talk as they have no mandate to do that. Mugabe and Zanu (PF) simply want to divert people’s attention from real issues. Zapu will not be party to elections without reforms” said Noko.

Political analyst Trevor Maisiri said Zanu (PF’s) insistence on elections before reforms were implemented would have negative repercussions for the party and the country on the regional and international scene.

“Zanu (PF) is aware of the centrality of SADC in Zimbabwe’s political case. The party will need an endorsement by SADC in order to be accepted as a legitimate authority in running the Zimbabwe government. Without that, every other institution and body including the AU, UN, and the broader international community will take a cue from SADC – which holds the mantle in ensuring legitimacy of any Zimbabwean government,” said Maisiri.

Another analyst, Dewa Mavhinga, said: “It will be useless to go for elections without meeting the SADC poll guidelines because the outcome will produce an illegitimate government. There must be sufficient reforms if we are to have a legitimate outcome.

“However it will not be sufficient for SADC alone to push for these reforms. Pressure should come from Zimbabwean citizens and other pressure groups. Pressure from internal democratic forces will be supported by SADC, the AU and the international community,” said Mavhinga.

President Robert Mugabe this month told a Zanu (PF) pre-election Central Committee meeting that the party’s 29 June date for elections stands and is in accordance with the law as Parliament would have ceased to exist by then.

The declaration by Mugabe leaves no room for implementation of reforms. Gumbo allayed fears of diplomatic isolation in the event of Zanu (PF) going ahead with its election plan in defiance of SADC’s calls for reforms first.

“There will not be any negative consequences if we hold elections in our own way. What SADC will say about the outcome is not important to us,” he said, adding that his party was currently making efforts to ensure a non-violent election so there was no need for SADC and other political parties to panic about the possibility of violence.

Senior Zanu (PF) officials like Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa and State Security Minister, Sydney Sekeramayi are on record saying the issue of security sector re-alignment is a non-starter, while Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has in the past accused SADC of overestimating its powers and forgetting that its role was one of mere facilitation.

This provoked a war of words between the party and the SADC facilitation team led by South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, whose spokesperson of the facilitation team, Lindiwe Zulu, said last month that the role of SADC was to make sure that all agreed reforms were implemented first and declared that nothing in the GPA was a closed chapter.

The MDC-T is on record saying it will not take part in elections without reforms. On Monday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said October was the most ideal date for elections as the constitution guarantees four months of executive authority after the dissolution of Parliament.