The last time I checked, someone was pushing for elections in March next year, and many agreed with me that that was a silly date to be throwing around – considering how much needs to be done before we even start thinking of polls.
Of course, my reaction was not that naïve. In Zimbabwe, things happen so fast that you can’t risk dozing off, or you will be left behind. I have lived long enough under the leadership of Robert Mugabe to know that the only surprise possible in Zimbabwe is absence of a surprise.
Again, my reaction is understandable considering that the headline and the story talked of “voters”, not members or supporters. The two are different. Voters are people who go to vote, and supporters are people who are loyal to you, and may vote you, but not necessarily.
So, once you start referring to someone as a voter, there is an assumption of the presence of a voting process. Up to now, I am not sure about the import of that headline, and the attending content of the story, but what is clear is that, by claiming that they had registered a million voters, Zanu (PF) was not helping any matters.
To start with, how does that party become absolutely certain that the so-called million people who could have gone and registered as voters are loyal to it? I don’t believe there is any form or paper at the Registrar’s Office where one has to indicate one’s political affiliation.
Even if there was, there wouldn’t be any guarantee that what the people claim on paper is what they really stand for. Even if the people who the party commandeers to go and register are Zanu (PF) card holders, that also does not translate them into actual votes for that party.
Zimbabweans have become a clever lot, and have a knack of camouflaging themselves in the face of danger. This is one point the likes of Oppah Muchinguri, who made this grand announcement, should take cognizance of.
Two weeks ago, I wrote in this space about Zanu (PF)’s bloody branding strategy, where planned to put stickers on people’s home to identify its supporters. Considering our gory election track record, what would stop people from happily buying Zanu (PF) cards and telling everyone who cares that they are indeed staunch party cadres?
It is easy to read between the lines when Zanu (PF) moves to persuade the world that it already has a million votes in the bag and is still counting. The party wants to create a façade of a strong support base so that, when the time that matters comes, it can again go back and justify the results on the basis of its pronouncements in the past.
In other words, the party has already started attempts at justifying rigging. How else can one interpret this?
The last time I checked, it was only the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission that should announce election results. By prematurely declaring that it already has a million votes under its armpit, Zanu (PF) seems to be breaking the law, so I wait with baited breath to see how ZEC is going to respond to that.
There has to be some sort of censure here, otherwise the commission would be setting a bad precedent. At face value, the Zanu (PF) announcement might seem harmless, but I see a lot of dangers in what it has done. The pronouncement unnecessarily whips up emotions and polarises attitudes.
It is definitely an attempt at pre-empting the results of the next election. If the election code of conduct that is meant to guide the manner in which parties conduct themselves does not precisely address and outlaw pre-emptive shenanigans, the sooner ZEC and other stakeholders look into this, the better for this nation’s future. – For feedback, please write to majonitt@gmail.com
Post published in: Opinions & Analysis