After four years of relative stability under the shaky coalition government, the Government of National Unity (GNU) is inevitably coming to an end.
Report by Mernat Mafirakurewa
Zimbabwe is heading for fresh polls, possibly next year, to end the marriage of convenience and there is no doubt that the holding of polls was to be the end game as is provided for by the law.
The life span of the coalition government has had its successes, particularly on the economic side where normalcy returned in the business environment, curbing the hyperinflationary atmosphere that had become catastrophic and alarming.
Zimbabweans have had a fair share of fresh air in the last couple of years, but now that election season is upon us, going forward it is highly likely that most decisions that the government will make would be partisan amid populist statements, electioneering declarations, all in a bid to outdo each other and score political points.
The cash constraints cannot be an issue on the holding of elections as the funds can be found, but given the dark past where lives and property were lost during heated campaigns, the question remains whether we have, as a country, done enough to hold a free, fair, credible and peaceful polls given the June 2008 election violence.
The Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration composed of representatives of the three main political parties tasked with assisting citizens of this country to deal with the effects of the previous violence has largely remained docile and an office organisation, to say the least.
This organ needs to be empowered to do its work effectively and ensure that citizens do not perceive elections as a time of blood-letting orgies.
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The organ was set up with the aim of strengthening the mechanisms for promoting the rule of law and democratic governance in Zimbabwe through citizen participation and dialogue.
But as the polls draw closer, the question on the lips of many is: Has the organ done enough to establish a mechanism for national healing, cohesion and unity and laying the foundation for a society characterised by mutual respect, tolerance, and development and where individuals enjoy the freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution?
The organ should be out in Muzarabani, Uzumba, Tsholotsho, Binga, Chimanimani and Plumtree where it is needed the most.
This is the time the organ should be working tirelessly to preach the gospel of peace, but as it stands this is unlikely to happen any time soon as political party interests are likely to overshadow national interests.
At one time there was a suggestion that leaders of the political parties hold joint rallies as a way of preaching peace. This was a noble idea just like the setting-up of the Organ on National Healing, but again, this has failed to materialise.
Will we see President Robert Mugabe, Welshman Ncube and Morgan Tsvangirai addressing the same rally before the polls, all in the interest of peace given that the scars of 2008 are yet to heal? No doubt the growing calls for the holding of elections without proper reforms is striking fear into the lives of the ordinary citizens.
Is the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ready to conduct credible polls? Has there been enough reforms to ensure that the electoral commission is a neutral and independent body that it should be? There is urgent and critical need to conduct an intensive public information campaign in all official languages to educate the voters on any changes to the voting system.
Are the security forces, in particular the police, ready to maintain peace by applying the rule of law regardless of perpetrators of violence: be it Zanu PF, MDC-T, MDC, Zapu or Zanu Ndonga?
We believe there should be de-politicisation of the security forces so that ordinary citizens can begin to trust this institution again.
Judging by the enthusiasm exhibited by political parties, there is no doubt that politicians are ready for polls, but are the masses ready too? There is need to pause and think.
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