We have said it before and we will say it again that the issue is not about the election date, but about recognising the people’s wishes.
NewsDay Editorial
The Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld the July 31 date for the holding of harmonised polls and Zanu PF will view the ruling with some sense of victory while for the other parties it is chagrin all the way.
But the real issue is about the people; whether elections are held today or tomorrow is not the issue.
After all, extending the poll date by a day or a year wouldn’t make much difference as the people of Zimbabwe know what they want and whom they want as their leader.
The problem is with some misguided elements in our politics who think their mandate is to go against the people’s wishes.
As a result, such people will leave no stone unturned as they try to frustrate the majority by disenfranchisement, vote-rigging, violence, intimidation and causing alarm and despondency among other dirty tactics.
But such people need to be warned that no one in history has ever fought the people’s tide and won. Fresh events in countries such as Egypt bear testimony to this fact.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Deposed and disgraced Hosni Mubarak was swept away by the tide of angry Egyptians barely a few months after he had “swept” to victory in an election he had manipulated.
Back home we had Ian Smith who thought he could easily crush the few guerillas in the bush who were relatively poorly equipped compared to his Rhodesian forces, but he learnt the hard way that he was not fighting Zipra and Zanla guerillas, but the will of the majority. Predictably, he lost.
Such lessons should never be lost on those who try to play God with the people.
Yes, it is possible to manipulate the judiciary and the electoral bodies in any country in order to cling to power, but it is impossible to manipulate the people’s will.
The people’s will is determined by events on the ground. It is not determined by legislation, coercion, propaganda and superficial cleverness.
People experience reality such as hunger, oppression, violence, rape, torture and violation of their rights.
No amount of repression or pretense at cleverness can fool the people. It is important, therefore, that on July 31, politicians respect what the people want.
Zanu PF should be warned that they must learn to let the people’s will prevail and should not make a repeat of 2008.
If the people vote them back into power that should be for the good of the country and if they lose, they should learn to accept defeat. Let the elections come and be a conduit for people to express their wish.
