https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/52299110331/sizes/m/
The fact that a majority of the Kenyan electoral commission refused to accept the narrow result didn’t seem to matter to them. but it certainly mattered to the loser, Raila Odinga, who condemned the handling of the election (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/1236-kenya-election-watchdogs-split-amid-violence-as-poll-winner-is-declared).
Sadly election rigging has become widespread – indeed in some countries such as Russia and China it is institutionalised! An article in Newsday says there is a feeling in Zimbabwe that next year’s election will be characterised by violence – even to the extent experienced in 2008, when Mugabe refused to step down after clearly losing the vote.
The article says the election preparations in Zimbabwe are already a shambles and that election observers from SADC and the AU are unlikely to meet credible conclusions. ‘It will be difficult to answer the question of whether the polling was free and fair or even who won.’ (See: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/08/zanu-pf-determined-to-win-at-all-costs/.)
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the decision of Zimbabwe’s censorship board to ban a documentary film ‘President’ by the Danish journalist Camilla Nielsson. The film followed opposition leader Chamisa’s presidential campaign in the 2018 elections. It alleged vote rigging, intimidation, fraud and political violence by Zanu PF.
The censorship board said it had banned the film because it was ‘likely to be contrary to public order and incite violence ahead of the elections’. The CPJ said the board’s decision seemed to be less about stopping incitement to violence and more about insuring that Chamisa ‘does not get free publicity ahead of a crucial election’. (See: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimbabwes-censorship-board-bans-danish-documentary-about-opposition-leader/.)
Foreign lawyers for the imprisoned CCC national chairperson Job Sikhala say his prosecution has exposed Zanu PF, the police and judiciary as the ‘new black colonialists’. Sikhala has been languishing in remand prison since June facing charges of inciting public violence following the murder of opposition supporter MoreBlessing Ali.
The lawyers, Amsterdam and Partners, said ‘It is not that we seek to replace the local lawyers, but rather machinery of justice that is irretrievably broken by the Zanu PF and their government that has been hallowed by all its actions to date.’ (See: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/sikhala-case-exposes-zanu-pf-police-and-judiciary-as-new-black-colonialists-says-expatriate-lawyers-barred-from-practicing-in-zim/.)
The man who best fits the description of ‘black coloniser’ is perhaps the late Robert Mugabe, who ironically has just been honoured as one of southern Africa’s founding fathers at a SADC summit in the DRC. Grace Mugabe received the award on his behalf and posed for photos with President Mnangagwa.
The award was described as a way of honouring SADC’s founding fathers for setting the foundations for a common future for the region. One has to laugh (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/sadc-honours-mugabe/).
Other points
- A global study has ranked Zimbabwe’s education as one of the most unaffordable in the world in relation to parental income. President Mnangagwa promised free education as one of his 2018 election pledges (see: https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-222496.html).
- The Vigil met outside the Embassy today. There was a small attendance caused by travel difficulties because of tube and train strikes. Thanks to those who attended: Chido Makawa, Heather Makawa, Joyce Mbairatsunga, Ephraim Tapa and Rose Benton. For photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72177720301440686.
- Due to unforeseen circumstances the Vigil will be unable to meet outside the Zimbabwe Embassy until Saturday 15th October when we will mark the 20th anniversary of the Vigil. Until then we will continue with the virtual Vigil.
- For Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.
Events and Notices:
- Next Vigil meeting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. Saturday 15th October from 2 – 5 pm when we will mark the 20th anniversary of the Zimbabwe Vigil.
- The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents us.
- The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe’s work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
- Facebook pages :
Vigil : https ://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil
ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/
ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515
Post published in: Featured
I have watched the film and I don’t remember the film ever raising the important issue the need to implement the democratic reforms to ensure free and fair elections. This was such a central issue in all Zimbabwean elections especially after the watershed 2008 elections when Zanu PF blatantly rigged the elections by cheating and using wanton violence. SADC advised MDC to postpone the 2013 elections, they knew Zanu PF would rig the elections because not even one meaningful reform had been implemented during the GNU.
When Chamisa was asked repeatedly why MDC A was participating in the 2018 elections knowing fully well with no reforms Zanu PF would rig. “MDC A has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging!” he answered.
I don’t remember any coverage of even this key rally in the film. No doubt Ms Neilsson was exercising some self-censorship! Still, one must ask to what end and purpose because , as expected, Zanu PF did rig the elections?
It is pleasing to note that Ms Nielsson’s film acknowledge the “vote rigging, intimidation, fraud and political violence by Zanu PF”.
Nelson Chamisa and company are hell bent on participating in the 2023 elections without even token reforms in place. As usual Chamisa is ignoring calls for reforms before elections and so the nation is once again being dragged into yet another utterly meaningless election to give vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy.
Of course, this is insane and Ms Neilsson knows it and would have exposed the sheer stupidity of participating in flawed elections to give the vote riggers legitimacy if this happened in her native Denmark. But why she is conspiring to cover it up in the case of Zimbabwe?