Elections mean that education in government schools will be disrupted, food aid will be attached to political affiliation, the media will come under fire and most disturbingly, people will be intimidated, harassed, arrested, assaulted and even killed.
All this in the name of elections!
The loss of a loved one
“I will never forget the early hours of that Monday morning. It was just after midnight. I was fast asleep when I heard the knock at the door.” recalls Taurai (not his real name.)
“My brother was sleeping in the dining room and I was sleeping in the bedroom. Three men forcibly entered our house after we had refused to open. One of them then asked who Tonderai was and my brother answered them, ‘It’s me’. One of them slapped him and he fell down. When I tried to intervene one of them pulled out a gun.
“I heard his cry for help as they threw him into the truck. Then I heard ‘Help!’ again- and the most awful scream which I can still sometimes hear when I shut my eyes. He had never screamed like that before, because he was such a strong man.
“After two days we found his body in the nearby bush. He had been stabbed with a sharp object all over his body. I still shudder, even though this occurred three years ago. My brother’s death left me in a state of shock and despair. Nothing can compare to the deep loss of a loved one. I miss my brother so much.”
Rapist goes free
Mercy (not her real name) still has to come to terms with her attack.
“They came and took me from my house to the base were there were other activists who they also accused of supporting MDC-T. I was raped by more than ten men throughout the night at different times.
“One of the soldiers who was there pierced a gun into my private parts it was painful and when I cried for help and they said ‘cry louder so that Morgan Tsvangirai can come and help you’.
“I was released the following morning and I struggled to walk. I reported the matter to the police who said they could not help me saying their ‘hands were tied’. I received counselling from one of their members who deals with rape victims and she encouraged me to get tested.
“I was tested some time after this attack and was told I was HIV positive. I often see one of the men who raped me when I go to the clinic to collect my supply of ARVs.
“I feel dejected when I see him. The man seems not to recognize me and I know nothing was done to him. This is what pains me. Perpetrators of violence are walking free and something must be done before we go for an election again.”
Education compromised
The education sector was not spared either.
In 2008, Zimbabwean school children had 27 full days of schooling, the rest lost to strikes, teachers being sent on duty as election officials in two separate elections, and then a wave of political violence in which more than 20 teachers were murdered on suspicion of backing the pro-democracy MDC.
Nokutenda, who was in Form 3 when the last elections were held, said: “There is need to wait for a clear election road map before elections are held or else we are to experience another wasted academic year like 2008 were pupils spent most days not going to school.”
After the March 2008 polls, the Zanu (PF) regime immediately embarked on a campaign of violence and reprisal attacks against the civilian population. Violence was targeted at active supporters of the MDC and their families, particularly those in rural areas and in low income suburbs where the MDC gained more votes than Zanu (PF).
Victims received death threats unless they voted “correctly” (for Zanu (PF)) in the second round of voting. Many of the casualties had their homes, food reserves and livestock destroyed and were displaced.
Hundreds of homesteads are reported to have been burnt in Muzarabani North, Mt Darwin North, Uzumba, Maramba-Pfungwe, Epworth, Hurungwe North, Mudzi North, Shamva South and Mudzi West.
Pedzisai Ruhanya, Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe programmes manager, said there were a lot of things to be ironed out before people could even start talking about elections.
“Zimbabwe is not ready to hold elections because the framework for holding fresh and free elections whose outcome will be accepted by the people is not there. The whole constitution-making process is flawed therefore it will produce a flawed result and put into dispute the legitimacy of winners of any of the elections. Zimbabwe needs to demilitarize the bodies that run elections for any outcome to be accepted,” said Ruhanya.
Closer monitoring
Lovemore Chinoputsa the former secretary general for the Zimbabwe National Students Union said there was need for closer and serious monitoring of events in Zimbabwe by SADC as facade elections should never be allowed again in this country.
“The people of Zimbabwe should never allow Zanu (PF) to move ahead with elections before all the hurdles to free and fair elections are removed as there will only be a repetition of previous elections.”
National Constitution Assembly Information and Publicity Secretary, Blessing Vhavha, said “I’m sure every Zimbabwean you meet in the streets will surely confess to you that the environment is unfavourable for the holding of a credible election.
“The media polarization, composition of the electoral body (ZEC) and the violence that we have witnessed in the COPAC constitution making exercise will make it practically impossible for the holding of elections.
“As for us in the NCA, we have made our position clear – that the holding of an election under the present constitution is impossible because of its flaws that Zanu (PF) has been using to its advantage to stay in power.
“The most likely scenario is that Zanu (PF) will insist on going to polls under the Lancaster Constitution and participating in that election will directly or indirectly mark a total capitulation to the forces of coercion and violence.”
Illegitimate elections
Vhavha said all elections in Zimbabwe remained illegitimate and without merit until undertaken under a new democratic and people-driven constitution, as the Zimbabwe People’s Charter puts it that the following should characterize elections:
• Equal access to the media, one independent, impartial, accountable and well-resourced electoral management body.
• A process of delimitation, which is free from political control, which is accurate, fair, transparent and undertaken with full public participation.
• A continually updated and accurate voters’ roll, which is open and accessible to all.
“As the NCA we are saying that elections should only be conducted after the writing of a new genuine people driven constitution. That new constitution should guarantee a free and fair election. And we expect them to be held in 2013.”
Post published in: News