Already, the ward-based voter registration exercise, which should run for 30 days, has been delayed and will start on June 10. This process should run until July 9, according to constitutional provisions. If the government decides to shorten it, as I read in The Herald that timelines can be shortened, the government will risk being taken to court by disgruntled Zimbabweans who will have missed the opportunity to register.
Most exciting is the fact that we are likely to witness more protest votes “Bhora Mudondo” by Zanu (PF) supporters who will be disgruntled at the imposition of candidates. With Zanu (PF) still to finalize its criteria for candidate selection, July 31 gives it very little time to properly run its primary elections, leaving it with no option but impose candidates as they did in 2008.
Also, the constitution spells out clearly that the uniformed service staff should not be partisan, yet we have heard army generals and senior police officials tow the Zanu (PF) line. The constitution will now silence them.
Not being a legal expert, I am not sure if it is outside the law for someone to demand to the Constitutional Court that all the serving police and army officials who have made partisan statements be made to retract their statements before the elections, especially those statements threatening not to accept a democratically elected leader other than Mugabe.
The best news is that SADC is demanding that a roadmap be adhered to, ensuring that all the reforms agreed in the Global Political Agreement, most of which are also enshrined in the new constitution, are implemented.
Anyone who had looked to Zanu (PF) for survival should now realise that its time is up, and should abandon the sinking ship and learn to live an honest life in a new Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Letters to the Editor