No election possible without major reform

By Violet Gonda
17 March 2010

There are growing concerns over the holding of elections next year, as announced recently by both the leaders of ZANU PF and the MDC-T. Robert Mugabe even went further saying ‘elections will be held next year with or without a new constitution’.

Many sections of Zimbabwean society are very apprehensive about holding fresh elections in the current environment.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has warned that it’s too early to call for elections as the inclusive government has failed to conduct institutional and legislative reform. The group said this is contrary to widespread expectations that the birth of the coalition government would improve the political environment.

In the UK, a Zimbabwean pressure group has said it is impossible to hold proper elections without real security, and it is going to launch a petition to the United Nations Security Council to try to ensure that free and fair elections are held.

The petition by the Zimbabwe Vigil says: ‘We call on the Security Council to ensure that the next elections in Zimbabwe are free and fair. We look to the United Nations to supervise the electoral process and the handover of power to a new government and believe peace-keeping troops will need to be in place before, during and after the polling.’

Although violence has decreased since the power sharing government was formed over a year ago, reports from the MDC-T and rights bodies show that politically motivated violence does continue in various parts of the country, especially the rural areas.

The Crisis Coalition said in a statement that it is unfortunate that the two principals, Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, are calling for elections, yet the reality on the ground shows that the environment necessary for holding democratic elections is highly compromised, due to the lack of any real reforms in the country.

“Some of the issues prejudicing the holding of democratic elections are; the skewed voter’s roll, lack of independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Delimitation Commission, the existence of repressive laws and the volatile political environment,” said the pressure group.

The Coalition said uniformed forces in Chegutu, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Manicaland were campaigning for the controversial Kariba draft and threatening MDC supporters with assault and warned political disturbances will escalate ‘if the country goes to the polls in 2011 without destroying the infrastructure of violence’.

In Mudzi, Mashonaland East, villagers criticise the new government of failing them as ZANU PF youths continue to raid their homes and steal their livestock.

Hundreds of MDC supporters were killed in the last election, while tens of thousands were displaced after ZANU PF embarked on an orgy of retribution violence following the volatile and controversial elections, which resulted in the rival political parties forming a power sharing government.

But since the formation of the government Mugabe has failed to implement most of the issues that he had signed up to do. He has also continued to make unilateral decisions, clearly showing he has no intention of sharing power. His only concern appears to be the removal of targeted sanctions oh him and his cronies, imposed by western countries.

A clear indication of the main problem greeted South African President Jacob Zuma, when he arrived in Harare on Tuesday as the regional mediator of the crisis. He was not only greeted by Mugabe and Tsvangirai at the airport, but also by scores of ZANU PF supporters who chanted anti Tsvangirai songs, in full view of the leaders. The flagrant lack of respect by those in ZANU PF was all too apparent.