We have seen outrageous actions and statements in recent days, culminating in the alleged plot to have President Jacob Zuma and his spokesperson assassinated by Lebanese assassins. This is the stuff of madness.
Just in the last month, Mugabe has manipulated an already chaotic voters roll, denied hundreds of thousands of eligible citizens their right to register as voters, abused presidential powers by circumventing Parliament to change election laws and unilaterally declared an illegal election date.
We are at the crossroads in determining the future of our country. We can achieve nothing by burying our heads in the sand and thinking that our vote on July 31 will not change anything. We must play our part in ensuring a democratic transition to a socially just and inclusive economy led by a government committed and responsive to the people.
Yes, the process is clearly far from perfect, but we have to work now within the perimeters we have. And I strongly believe that with the right support those perimeters still present sufficient opportunity for change; but we need now, more than ever, for everyone to come out and vote to make a difference.
Some have suggested that we should boycott these elections and by entering them we are simply legitimising them. However, Mugabe has shown in 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2008 that a lack of legitimacy is clearly not his concern. He and his political and military elite only care about pilfering the country’s resources to enrich themselves, not about legitimacy in the eyes of the people or the global community. If the MDC boycotts the election, Mugabe and his party will simply move forward and declare victory on polling day. They will rebuff any accusations of illegitimacy by the international community, who would be virtually powerless to do anything beyond maintaining sanctions that have not worked in the past.
If the people are truly allowed to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote, the numbers will overwhelm the Zanu (PF) election rigging machinery and the MDC will win in a landslide. Even if only 51% of the people are able to vote, the likelihood is that the MDC would still win.
The people of Zimbabwe want elections as quickly as possible because they want their post-Mugabe lives to start as quickly as possible. While the MDC, SADC, the African Union and the international community all want to see a fair pre-electoral process and the agreed upon reforms before going to the polls, we must be responsive to the people. The people want change now and if they stand up and demand their right to vote, they will get the change they so richly deserve.
This is why we are uniting with other opposition political parties, and anyone else who wants to see change. Many of those who have joined us are former Mugabe allies. We recently launched our election manifesto at a rally that attracted 50,000 people. Across the country our rallies are continuing and our leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is presenting our policies and comprehensive plans to rebuild our shattered nation.
At nearly 90 years old, Mugabe is too weak and too feeble to campaign in the election having only been seen once in public at his party’s campaign launch. If he cannot campaign, how could he possibly lead?
Mugabe’s election-stealing antics are well documented but the panicking and mad behaviour we have seen is symbolic of their unravelling regime. Change is in the atmosphere.
People can smell it. The people are demanding we participate in these elections. We will win, and we will give Zimbabwe back its future.
Post published in: News