The year 2018 rekindles hope that Zimbabweans can still use the ballot to boot Zanu PF out of power, even though the regime has distorted the political landscape to suppress the will of the people. We were gullible to participate in flawed electoral processes in the past.
By Brandon Gutu,Our Reader
But our eyes have been opened and we won’t accept elections without political and electoral reforms, in accordance with the Constitution and guidelines set by the Southern African Development Committee (Sadc).
In this regard, the minimum conditions for free and fair elections can be paraphrased by:
- Realignment of our laws with the Constitution to ensure that the army is confined to the barracks and law enforcement agents focus on maintaining order and the security of all citizens of Zimbabwe.
- A free political environment for political parties to hold public meetings, rallies and demonstrations without undue interferences by the partisan State security agents.
- Fair coverage of political activities of all political parties by the public media.
- Non-partisan involvement of traditional chiefs in the provision of social welfare services from non-governmental organisations.
- Establishment of an independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), subject to provisions of the Constitution.
- A transparent voter registration process and availability of a new voters’ roll at least four months before voting day.
- Admission of regional and international election observers and monitors into the country at least three months before voting day.
- Pasting of polling station based-results of all municipal, parliamentary and presidential results outside polling station a day after the polls.
- Announcement of results not later than two days after the polls.
We appreciate the work being done by the National Electoral Reform Agenda. We cannot allow evil to reign again in 2018. History will judge us for condemning the future of our unborn children to a miserable life of oppression and abject poverty. We won’t stoop so low as Zimbabweans. We want a government of the people, by the people and for the people by any means necessary.
