Opposition poll boycott rattles Zanu PF

By Lance Guma
15 May 2007

An election boycott of the Zaka East parliamentary by-election by the opposition has rattled the ruling Zanu PF party who responded with jibes that the MDC was running scared and feared another electoral loss. The seat fell vacant following the death of Deputy Mines Minister Tinos Rusere, a Zanu PF member of parliament. Both factions of the MDC however say the by-election is a waste of time and resources since parliament is set to be dissolved within a few months to make way for harmonised presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. It effectively means whoever wins the seat will only serve for less than 8 months before parliament is dissolved.

Zanu PF’s Masvingo province however took a swipe at the MDC saying the decision was driven by cowardice. The comments however have been described as an attempt to mask their disappointment at the boycott. As if to highlight the point an unknown candidate from an unknown party registered at the nomination courts in Jerera last week Friday. Lameck Batirai from the Zimbabwe People’s Democratic Party (ZPDP) threw his hat into the ring. The move immediately raised accusations the party is a Zanu PF creation meant to legitimize any election in the event of opposition boycotts, as has happened in Zaka East. Another candidate Nicholas Shanga from the United Peoples Party (UPP) will also contest the election.

Zanu PF is once again fielding a serving soldier with Zimbabwe Defence Forces director for communications, Colonel Livingstone Chineka. This also follows the election of Colonel Callisto Gwanetsa in the Chiredzi South by-election this year. Last year in November Chineka gave evidence supporting the Interception of Communications Bill in parliament. He argued that the country's mobile phone operators were threatening national security by using independent gateways for their phone networks. Analysts say the nomination of Chineka and many others is part of a broader strategy to militarize state institutions and involve army figures in the legislature.