But proponents of the adoption of this culture into Zimbabwean politics largely ignore the vast difference between the conditions under which elections are held in the west and those under which elections were held in Zimbabwe. Their argument is therefore flawed.
In the west, presidential candidates and their parties are allowed equitable access to the media before and during the elections. The violence and intimidation that characterise our elections are not seen in the west. The security forces do not interfere in the electoral processes of their countries as do Zimbabwean security forces. Zimbabwean elections have never been free and fair. Presidential candidates who lose elections in the western democracies lose to legitimately elected presidents. Candidates who lose elections in Zimbabwe lose to illegitimately elected presidents. So the moral justification of stepping down after an unsuccessful bid for presidency in the west cannot be used to justify stepping aside of losing presidential candidate here.
In 2002 Robert Mugabe was pronounced winner of the presidential election in extremely controversial circumstances – including mass murder and selective arrest of hundreds of MDC activists and the stuffing of ballots by Zanu (PF). Tsvangirai challenged the election results in 2002. But the High Court sat on the petition up to the time of the next elections. To this date no decision has been passed by the courts on Tsvangirai’s election challenge of 2002. Why then would anybody think that in the face of an undetermined election challenge, it can be said that Mugabe definitely and legitimately won the 2002 election and that Tsvangirai definitely and legitimately lost the same election.
Notorious delay
On 29 March, 2008, Tsvangirai won the Presidential election. The notorious delay by the Zimbabwe Election Commission, headed by a former soldier rumoured to be fiercely loyal to Mugabe, in announcing the results are now a matter of historical record. Zanu (PF) and state agents went on to conjure a Presidential Run-off Election. The violence that was unleashed against Tsvangirai and the MDC culminated in the death of over 300 party supporters. Mugabe and Zanu (PF) were prosecuting an undeclared civil war in Zimbabwe.
Because the whole Run Off had been converted into a dangerous military operation, Tsvangirai advisedly withdrew from that election. How then can anyone say he lost? Many people have accused Tsvangirai of losing the 2013 election. SADCC and AU have categorically stated that although the election was largely peaceful and free it was not fair. They correctly found that Tsvangirai and the MDC were denied access to the Voter’s Roll and other pertinent election material. They were also denied access to the public media and could not adequately market their party and policies through the public media.
Monumental fraud
Everybody knows that Tsvangirai and the MDC were subject to sting security operations in spite of the new constitution that prohibited members of the security forces from meddling in politics. The work of Nikuv in circumventing the will of the people of Zimbabwe shall go down the annals of history as one of the most heinous crimes perpetrated.
Tsvangirai mounted a Constitutional Court challenge on this unfair election. He was denied access to key election material for his petition and denied the right to lead oral evidence from his key witnesses in support of his case. After being subjected to this injustice, Tsvangirai withdrew his petition. The legal validity of the 2013 election was not allowed to be put to test. MDC remains fortified in its insistence that the 2013 election in Zimbabwe was a monumental fraud. In fact this was a huge military operation disguised as an election.
Africa has enough examples of presidents who did not make it to State House on the first attempt – notably President Michael Sata of Zambia and Former President Abdulaye Wade of Senegal.
The world must appreciate that those who are contesting elections against Zanu (PF) are fighting against a dictatorship which has been entrenched for over 33 years – something people in the west appear to have forgotten about. The fact that Mugabe is in State House now and Tsvangirai is not does not mean he is the legitimate occupant.
Post published in: News
Not being certain of where you are going with these Tsavngirayi wins, and subsequent anti-Western practice of staying at the helm with a few constitutional changes for good measure, allow me to remind you that no less person than the MDC-Tsvangirayi Secretary General (effectively 2IC) was unambiguous in locating contributors to Tsvangirayi’s “win” of 2013. Leaders in thought and action from this moulded after Tsvangirayi political formation have called for change. Well, it is his party and he can win if he wants to. Res ipsa loquitor.
I agree with the author. In 2002 the then South African President Thabo Mbeki sent emissaries to Zimbabwe. They were appalled with what they saw. When they went back and wrote a report on the goings-on, even Mbeki’s government was even horrified with the findings. The SA government gives preferential treatment to Mr Mugabe (he is not a president, his legitimacy having gone away in 2000) and let him off the hook. It is so sad that African leaders regard Mugabe as a saint. And yet many of the Zimbabweans have run away form the economic meltdown.
Tswangirai has not failed.He does not work alone. I do not believe the failing issue should be used by anyone wishing to Remove Tswangirai , as he seems to be the only noticeable figure, genuine in the Zimbabwe politics. He has the respectability to continue leading just as Tendai Biti is one of the Best Finance Ministers our country has ever had.he was part of raising Zimbabawe the graves to shops filled with food.
I do not have a political party but if the present MDC set up were to change, I would think twice about the capability of noise makers.Changing leaders is the Zimbabwean disease, used to boast that Zanu was formed in his house, to fights in Zambia both in Zapu and Zanu in the 70s and loss of blood from both parties all shows the illness in the Zimbababwe politics. People in Zimbzbwe have never tested realy independence, may be a few in zanupf.
If the MDC want to rule Zimbabawe they must confront Zanu Pf head on and stop being cowards, fighting among themselves. Before independence we were not afraid of dying. The current fear is the one that results in the results coming out of elections not Tswangirayi personally. Zanu PF will rule as long as there is no decisive effective well thought strategy. the MDC fights are aimed at the wrong targets.
Just like in the west democracy, Mr Tsvangirai pass on the button stick. Im sure he has runout of ideas of how to unseat the Znpf. Fresh minds from the likes of Biti should take over. MDC should be found practicing what they are always preaching. The former excellence should be exemplary, do as you preach. Plus wakasiya ndokuti vatyatsowana mukana wakawanda nema bhebhi