week’s Zanu (PF) congress will vote overwhelmingly in favour of extending Mugabe’s tyrannical rule from 2008 – 2010 – thereby extending the unpopular party’s reign of terror in
But then again, Zanu (PF) has no respect for constitutions. They can just amend it one more time – after all they have changed it 17 times since 1980. Or they might just ignore it, which they also have done on numerous occasions.
Like the ruling party members of parliament, the delegates will vote as they are told to. We will not even be surprised if Didymus Mutasa’s crazy notion to have Mugabe appointed President for Life is thunderously applauded by the delegates.
The “streamlining” of the presidential and general elections is a cunning device – but no-one has been fooled by talk of saving costs and not inconveniencing people by causing them to have to queue at the polls.
Saving money has never been a consideration for Zanu (PF). They are the ones who amended the constitution to abolish the Senate, and then a few years later amended it again to bring the Senate back. They amended the constitution to separate the presidential and general elections – in another ploy to stop the opposition gaining a hold on power. Now they want to change it back again.
In 2005, Mugabe stated categorically that he would step down after 2008 when presidential elections were next scheduled. But the succession battle within Zanu (PF) has become so vicious that there is a very real danger of a major split that would weaken the party considerably, and possibly pave the way for an opposition victory at the polls.
He dare not allow that to happen. He and the political elite have only one agenda – staying in power. No matter what.
So it would appear Zimbabweans are condemned to another four years of more of the same – international isolation, economic collapse, violent repression of any criticism, no rule of law, major human rights abuses, starvation, disease – a virtual return to the stone-age.