Zimbabweans ignore another flawed election

By Violet Gonda
16 January 2005

Zimbabweans have yet again shown that they are no longer interested in elections as long as the playing field is not free and fair. The local government elections, which were held in about 4 urban councils this past weekend, were marred by voter apathy.

The situation was also made more confusing in other areas like Chitungwiza where the MDC fielded 2 candidates representing the rival factions.

It’s reported that in Chitungwiza ZANU PF had 917 votes, the MDC camp led by Vice President Gibson Sibanda had 257 and the MDC camp led by President Morgan Tsvangirai had 212.

Speaking on behalf of the Tsvangirai side, Nelson Chamisa admitted that having 2 opposition candidates could have caused confusion in Chitungwiza. He saw it as a mix up and a problem that was discovered after the two names were forwarded to the districts at the last minute.

Also in Chitungwiza, MP Job Sikhala together with seven others from the Sibanda faction, were arrested for allegedly campaigning "too close to a polling station."

Zanu PF won 3 out of the 4 urban council elections that were held this past weekend with the MDC only winning the Zvishavane seat. Chamisa blamed their loss on intimidation of voters, vote buying, a shambolic voters roll and voter apathy. Chamisa said the voter apathy and the results of the council elections only serve to vindicate the MDC’s position that Zimbabweans have no confidence in the Zanu PF-managed electoral process.

We were not able to get a comment from the Sibanda camp and ZANU PF refuses to talk to us.

When asked why the MDC was participating in a flawed process that seemed not to have the backing of the populace, the MDC official said participation is a way of exposing the dictatorship and electoral fraud. “For the past 5 years we have been walking on this electoral route with landmines of cheating and rigging, but this does not mean we should throw out the baby with the bath water. We continue appealing to Zimbabweans that over and above, there is an electoral route we are pursuing and a political route that will ensure we have a constitution…”