‘Aliens’, first time voters to decide election outcome

Potential voters interviewed in Marondera Urban and surrounding farms revealed that ‘aliens’ wanted to settle scores with the political party that scuttled their livelihoods and went on to label them aliens in a country of their birth.

First time youthful voters want to take the opportunity to cast their ballot and ensure their future is entrusted to hands of a responsible government, which will create jobs for its people.

Turning away ‘aliens’ from the recent Referendum rubbed salt into the open wound that will only heal after the coming election has produced a clear winner.

“There are millions of Zimbabwean-born ‘aliens’. They will use the coming election to vent their anger on the people who mischievously relegated them to second class citizens, for cheap political reasons. The turning away of ‘aliens’ at the Referendum sent signals that mischievous elements in political circles are at work,” said Joseph Phiri of Nyamwari Farm.

Enthusiasm

He said he and other ‘aliens’ in his situation were hopeful that the Referendum would culminate in a new charter that will allow them to participate in the next election.

Another youthful Zimbabwean citizen who, Paul Chikuni of Marondera Central, said he and other youths would cast their ballot in a manner that ensured the agriculture sector, industry and commerce would get back on their feet.

He said youths were trampling over each other at the Registrar General’s offices to register as voters as they did not want to miss the opportunity to determine their future through the ballot.

“The local Registrar General’s offices are ever congested with youths jostling to register. We have been side-lined for too long regarding participation in national events, which have a bearing on our future. We are determined to settle scores with whomever now or otherwise never,” said Chikuni.

Given the enthusiasm of youths and ‘aliens’ to vote there would be a clear and outright winner in the election, he said. “I will be shocked if the party that comes second garners more than 20 percent of the ballots cast.”

No run-off

More Mharadza, of Marondera Urban, said there would not be another election run-off or Government of National Unity, as the youth and ‘alien’ vote would clear all doubt regarding the winning party and president.

He said the disputed 2008 election disenfranchised millions of youths and their parents as they were regarded as aliens by the previous government – hence failure to produce a clear winner.

“The land reform programme scuttled livelihoods of former farm workers most of whom were of Malawian, Mozambican and Zambian origin. The people were forced to live as destitutes in urban centres and denied voting rights. These people make a significant constituency and have a grudge to settle through their vote,” said Mharadza.

Both Mharadza and Chikuni concurred that the outcome of the Referendum was pleasing as it would help speed up the election process, saying “The earlier the election is held the sooner Zimbabwe’s economic, social and political welfare get on the mend.”

Education needed

Anyway Tafireyi of Rujeko said though ‘aliens’ would determine a clear winner there was need for them to be educated on their restored rights to vote contained in the new constitution.

“The turning away of ‘aliens’ from the Referendum deepened confusion about their status as voters. The Referendum experience left them wondering if ever they would be accorded the opportunity to participate in the electoral process,” said Tafireyi.

He said it was the responsibility of electoral bodies, political parties and NGOs with the mandate to conduct voter education, to enlighten former aliens about their newly restored citizenship and voting rights.

Tafireyi warned of voter apathy by the ‘aliens’ if they are not informed of their voting rights as they would not be prepared to face another humiliating turning away at the looming election.

Anger at RG

Tonderai Chitaguda urged responsible authorities and political parties to seriously educate the electorate about the importance of citizen participation in the democratic process, saying failure to do so might result in the voter apathy that characterized the Referendum. “If people are not educated and given the opportunity to debate crucial national events they are bound to disassociate themselves from the electoral process,” he said.

Hundreds of youths expressed anger at what they described as a slow and discriminative voter registration process at the RG’s offices.

“Voter registration is proceeding at a painfully slow pace and some potential voters are denied the opportunity to register because of proof of residence requirements. It seems registering officers want to frustrate youthful voters and ‘aliens’ out of the voting process,” said a disgruntled youth Sheila Chizema of Nyameni.

Right to vote

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure that citizens disenfranchised by the Lancaster House Constitution regain their right to participate in future elections.