So the SADC leaders think elections will solve Zimbabwes problems? Maybe they are right. Maybe they know something that we dont. Maybe it is possible to hold free and fair elections under their supervision and/or guidelines.
Maybe Mugabe and his cabal of generals will now accept the will of the people.
But we have our doubts.
Mugabe is on record as saying: The vote cannot supersede the bullet. Members of the military junta have said in the past that they would not salute (read: take orders from) anyone who did not fight in the liberation struggle.
In other words they have given themselves the power of veto over the will of Zimbabweans.
Has all this suddenly changed?
Mugabe himself knows in his heart of hearts that the people of Zimbabwe have rejected him and his party. He knows too that he can never win in a free and fair election. Hence the use of the army, CIO, militia, police etc to thrash, rape and generally terrorise Zimbabweans. He and his minders also know that this is not enough to ensure a poll victory. They will also have to resort to rigging to ensure the result they desire.
Surely, a leader who expects to win in an election wants as much transparency as possible to confound the doubting Thomases. A leader who knows he has the support of the people does not encourage his supporters to mete out violence to everyone suspected of opposing him.
If the elections now pencilled in for next year are to produce an uncontested result, there is need for a transparent electoral process. The voters rolls will need to be cleaned up. All ghost voters need to be removed and all eligible voters allowed to register and vote. Somebody has to see to it that there is no intimidation or violence. The armed forces, official and unofficial, must not be permitted to roam the countryside bashing opponents.
Election results should be announced soon after counting at each polling station, and the counting must be done in front of local independent as well as international observers and in the presence of the candidates and their agents. The military junta should be obliged to place itself under the authority of an elected government.
Is this possible?
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga