The Financial Gazette

Levi Mukarati, Senior Political Reporter

TWO months ago, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) deputy chairperson, Joyce Kazembe told the nation that the commission was prepared to hold any election. But her boss, Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe, who is the electoral body’s chairperson, made shocking revelations last week that it was difficult for ZEC to conduct a general election next year.
Mutambanengwe told journalists in Kariba that ZEC was still trying to come up with reforms that would make the electoral body deliver on its mandate.
The judge, who is still concluding his duties in Namibia, where he is based, admitted the political environment was polarised.
Mutambanengwe said: “We are engaging various stakeholders to see what can be done about the voters’ roll. It is a topical issue that the dead are still on the roll. We have various reforms that we have suggested but they have not been promulgated. The calls for elections by the political parties are political decisions. We do not make that decision, but our time frame to put everything in place and clean up the voters’ roll for the elections goes beyond the timeframe the parties want the elections. So in terms of time it is not a matter that we will be able to properly say we will do it.”
Mutambanengwe also said the electoral commission was poorly resourced to conduct its business effectively.
Signs have begun to show that Zimbabwe is highly likely to go for the elections under the current polarised environment, which contradicts all the tenets of democracy.
The voters’ roll is reported to be in shambles, the Electoral Act still needs to be amended and a new constitution is in doubt with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) skeptical it will reflect the will of the people, therefore a no vote in the referendum now looks likely.
ZANU-PF, the dominant partner in the inclusive government, prefers the polls be held under the current environment.
The Southern African Development Community — one of the guarantors of the Global Political Agreement — has also called for fresh polls saying they are the only way forward in getting rid of the crippled three legged coalition government.
In 2008, elections were conducted under a tense atmosphere of violence and intimidation resulting in a cliffhanger poll that delivered the first ever hung parliament.
Zimbabweans are therefore pinning hope on a new constitution to lay out the requisite legislation that guarantees a free and fair election.
The constitution outreach programme is also having its own share of problems and a draft constitution that had been penciled for finalisation next month is now expected to be completed by February next year.
The drivers of the outreach, the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee is now battling to mobilise US$8 million required to conclude the exercise.
Previous elections, which have been marred by ugly scenes of violence, were disputed with the former major opposition party — MDC-T — crying foul alleging ZANU-PF stole the vote.
The political parties, that seek to dislodge ZANU-PF, which has been ruling for the past 30 years, want an environment conducive for the holding of free and fair elections. They want freedom of assembly and association, zero tolerance on political violence, equal access to State media, transparency and independence of ZEC among other prerequisites.
Academic and political scientist, John Makumbe has added his voice on Zimbabwe’s preparedness for elections next year and suggested a ‘big no’.
He described the inclusive government, formed by ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations, as a transition to facilitate the coming
in of democracy.
A new constitution formed the first condition if ever Zimbabwe would hold acceptable elections, Makumbe said.
“The MDC thinks lets have the elections because they believe they have the support of the people. MDC is joking if they think they will win again next year. ZANU-PF will rig and will double rig if not triple rig in this environment. We are not ready for elections next year,” he said
“We have no choice but to write a compromised constitution. We will get an accommodating constitution, which we can use to get to the next step.”
Zimbabwe Election Support Network chairperson, Tinoziva Bere concurred with Makumbe and Mutambanengwe that the country was not ready for elections adding that massive reforms were needed if the environment can be labeled to be conducive.
“When we say we are not ready for an election we are not saying we don’t believe in elections, but that we don’t want a repeat of the June 2008 polls. These slogans to say down with so and so are dangerous because this is a liberation war slogan, which meant kill,” he said.
“Why should our security personnel express allegiance to a political party? Do we need repressive laws and violence? ZEC needs to be resources and given independence from politicians.”
Elections are supposed to reflect the will of the people in their choices over who they want to rule the country.
It is a democratic right of any individual to freely express that will.
While the politicians in the main political parties have hinted elections are inevitable next year, the question; is the country ready for these polls?

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