MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s claims that his party has unearthed a massive scam in which Zanu PF is allegedly plotting to rig the forthcoming harmonised elections using State security agents and a hired Israeli intelligence organisation should be taken seriously.
NewsDay Editorial
Tsvangirai also alleged that Zanu PF was planning to register over 50 000 police officers as special voters to allow them to cast their ballots before the poll date, yet the country only has 38 000 police officers.
Stories have been told before of police details being asked to show their superiors their postal ballots and this was a bone of contention in the 2008 election.
This compounded with the statements that have been made by Securocrats that they will not salute a leader who does not have liberation war credentials — in apparent reference to Tsvangirai — gives credence to the Zanu PF shenanigans with the postal ballot system, especially in regard to the security forces.
In fact, since Zimbabwe attained its independence in 1980, most if not all of its elections have been marred by allegations of vote-rigging by State actors.
The forthcoming elections are no different as Tsvangirai has alleged that Section 56 (1) of the Electoral Amendment Act which prohibited double voting had been clandestinely deleted, a move he described as highly suspicious.
It is important for Justice Rita Makarau-headed Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to seriously scrutinise Tsvangirai’s election-rigging allegations and if found to be true, take appropriate action.
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Not only should elections be free and fair, they should actually be seen to be free and fair.
If Zec investigates and is in fact seen to be investigating these allegations it would help in the elections with the legitimacy they need for Zimbabwe to be properly accepted as a democracy on the international stage.
All parties must vigilantly be on the alert for any shenanigans relating to elections by Zanu PF or any other force for that matter.
Zimbabwe cannot afford another sham election like the 2008 presidential run-off.
No one, no matter how big or small, should be allowed to subvert the will of the people. Already, Zanu PF has been plagued by internal fights emanating from allegations of vote-rigging and intimidation within its structures.
At least 100 Zanu PF aspiring candidates have already lodged their appeals with the party, an indication that it is not interested in democratic processes that could usher in fresh blood in its leadership.
We hope Zec will take heed of the appeal by Tsvangirai and know that the world is watching.
