Mock election to be held for Zimbabweans in the diaspora

By Tererai Karimakwenda
21 March, 2008

Having been denied the right to vote in the elections on March 29th, Zimbabweans living outside the country have organised mock elections to be conducted on the same day. Zimbabwean groups in the UK, New Zealand and South Africa will set up polling booths where voters can cast their ballots for parliamentary, senate and presidential candidates.

In the UK, the Zimbabwe Vigil group are planning mock elections outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, that have a twist. Coordinator Rose Benton said they would be setting up a plastic ballot box and have invited the press to witness some scenes they will be acting out.

One character, played by popular activist Patson Muzuwa, will wear a Mugabe mask and act as though he is stuffing ballot boxes. Benton said other Vigil members will portray “dead people” who have come to vote. This is meant to mock the discovery in Zimbabwe that the voters’ roll contains the names of many dead individuals.

Other Vigil members plan to wear army and police uniforms. Benton explained that they are trying to show what the situation is like in Zimbabwe, as it was announced this week that the police would now be allowed to enter polling stations to “assist” voters who are illiterate. Benton said the votes will be counted and results announced before they disperse.

In South Africa, the President of the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth Movement, Simon Dreadman Mudekwa, said their members would occupy the grounds of the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria for 3 days, starting on March 27th with mock elections on the 29th. Mudekwa said they were doing this because Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the right to vote so the Embassy was “useless”.

See mock diaspora vote ballot