SOUTH Africa can boast of being a champion at conducting relatively peaceful elections and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) must be green with envy.
NewsDay Editorial
Although the May 7 polls were not entirely incident-free, it is the manner they were held that should inspire all African countries particularly the troubled ones such as Zimbabwe.
In many countries, elections pitting ruling parties have always presented challenges to the electoral administrators as those in the corridors of power and sometimes the security forces (in the case of Zimbabwe) flex their muscles to tilt the balance of scales to their masters.
Of course, there were some incidences of serious violence, but these pockets were immediately contained. Before, during and after the elections, South Africa is worth emulating for many reasons.
What is most important is that the results were not withheld, but quickly released as they trickled into the Independent Election Commission.
By so doing, there was no anxiety from the voting public which otherwise could have trooped into the streets and caused violence.
Besides, arguably the biggest beneficiary of the polls, Economic Freedom Front (EFF)’s Julius Malema, showed his maturity by calling on his supporters to accept the results even though they did not entirely agree with the way the elections were conducted.
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Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from its southern neighbour regarding the handling of electoral processes.
The ruling Zanu PF party, a liberation movement like the ANC, should derive the lesson that it can win elections without employing violence and fraud as it has done so often in the past.
It should also accept vibrant opposition; the upstart EFF did not get the kind of harassment any nascent opposition movements get in Zimbabwe at the hands of Zanu PF.
But it was very worrisome that the ANC, taking a leaf from Zanu PF, almost completely shut out its opponents from national broadcaster, SABC.
This is a blot on the ruling party that should be addressed in future elections.
Another lesson that Zanu PF might as well learn is that retaining one leader forever is not the only way to guarantee continuity in its policies. Leaders can be changed within the party while its general philosophy survives.
South Africa can rest assured that a new President would be in come next polls. Zimbabweans can hardly have the same boast.
The days are numbered for monarchical rule in Africa, as no country belongs to an individual or a clan.
Zimbabwe must embrace free election mechanisms which recognise that the country is every Zimbabwean’s business regardless of political affiliation.
ZEC must aspire to inspire confidence in Zimbabweans during elections following the South African example.
Worryingly though, the myth that liberation parties are impossible to vote out of power, is becoming entrenched in Africa.
