WHY WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR

Eleven Reasons Why We Should Not Have Elections This Year 

Dumisani O. Nkomo

Amendment 19 to the Zimbabwean constitution ,section 23  upholds and enshrines the right of every Zimbabwean political rights and more specifically  the right  to free and fair elections and referendums .The current conditions prevailing in the country make it impossible for a free and fair election to be held in the next twenty four months .Holding elections under the current conditions would be an infringement on the rights of Zimbabweans as envisaged and articulated by section 23[a],[b]and [[c]  of the country’s supreme law .Violence has found expression  in both overt and physical violence such as the recent outbreak of lawlessness in Harare as well as structural violence embedded in prohibitive laws and legislation .This has been accentuated by ZAN PF ‘s flagrant disregard of the Global Political agreement and the imperatives of institutional ,legislative and  constitutional reform .Furthermore Zimbabwe is miles away from meeting the requirements of the SADC GUIDELINES ON THE CONDUCT OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS which envisages amongst other things fair and balanced media coverage and the existence of conditions permissive to freedom of association and assembly ,adequate voter education and accessible ,up to date voters rolls .To this end I strongly believe that it is not only imprudent but also scandalous to hold   elections under conditions which are at variance with minimum requirements envisaged under instruments and frameworks such as the country’s constitution, the Global Political Agreement and the SADC GUIDELINES .Herein are eleven  reasons why I believe that elections should not be held this year .I am aware that there is no shortage of insanity in the country and prospects of such a plebiscite taking place are high considering ZANU P.F ‘s propensity for actions which are suicidal to the country’s well being .After all as Alexander Pope observed “Fools rush were angels fear to tread “and there are no prizes for guessing who the fools are in this case .

1.Violence and lawlessness-recent events in Harare and other parts of the country are indicative of the fact that the political climate is not conducive for the holding of  elections as ZANU PF militants ,rogue war vets elements ,misguided and brainwashed youths have gone on an organized ,confused and confusing orgy of organized violence .The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission should investigate allegations of violence against ZANU PF in recent weeks as well as the conduct of the police in the recent mayhem which resulted in thousands of people being displaced .

2.Impartial police force –the police have displayed an unwillingness or incapacity to apply the law in a non partisan manner as evidenced by the manner in which they have arrested hordes of M.D.C supporters .Once again before here is any talk of any election the conduct of the police should be investigated by the relevant constitutional recourse structure in this case the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission [that is if it is operational ]]

3.Voters roll –It is the duty of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure that the voters roll is accessible and up to date .It is alarming to note that according to independent investigations the voters roll is fraught with the name of infants ,toddlers and the dead .Before there is any talk of elections the voters roll should be cleaned up .Credit to M.D.C T  for writing to Z.E.C raising these issues .

4.Voter registration –the process of registering voter registration should be made voter friendly as the process has been made so ritualistic and religious in the Zimbabwean context with people being required to provide proof of residence ,a situation that has disadvantaged thousands of eligible youths .In other counties people can register using cell phones or the internet .We don’t have to make voter registration similar to appeasing ancestral spirits epitomized by endless protocol and rituals .

5.Voter Education –the  SADC GUIDELINES envisage sufficient voter education and the process has hardly begun possibly because nobody including  Z.E.C knows the official date for holding elections .There may also be resource constraints .

6.Balanced Public Media  and availability of alternative media –The public press is unashamedly campaigning for ZANU P.F and even if the media is opened up a month before the elections the damage would already been done as the former ruling party has been abusing the public media with shameless propaganda, endless party jingles epitomized by bootlicking party youths and posterior wagging Mbare Chimurenga Women ‘s group members . There is still no independent electronic media in Zimbabwe .

7.A credible well resourced electoral commission-admittedly amendment 19 creates a framework for  a fairly independent electoral commission .However Z.E.C is not currently well resourced as it’s chairperson intimated last year thus compromising the “efficiency ,efficacy and independence  of the commission .The amount allocated by minister Tendai  Biti under the current budget is barely enough to carry out an election with logistical precision and adequate institutional capacity .

8.Timeous Accreditation and Deployment of Regional and International Observers

This is critical in ensuring that there is confidence deposited in the electoral system and subsequent outcomes as  regional and international observers need to arrive in the country at least three months before the elections .Already some African countries have indicated that they cannot afford to be in Zimbabwe six months before the elections so three months would be a compromise time frame as most pre election violence and other antics are carried out three to six months before elections and in the last few months before elections ZANU PF loves putting on a good boy image in order to fool the international community .

9A new constitution

The Global Political Agreement is abundantly clear in stating that the G.N.U agreement would be reviewed after conclusion of the constitution making process and only then can we infer that elections could be held .Already the constitution making process is over a year behind schedule and chances of the process being concluded this year are increasingly becoming slim due to funding constraints .There should be a new constitution before elections are held .

10.Functionality of New Constitutional Structures and Systems

Even if the new constitution ushers in democratic institutions ,processes and rights all these instruments and structures will not be fully functional for at least a year .The Zimbabwe Media Commission ,the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission and Z.E.C itself are examples of structures created by new constitutional amendments which have not actually begun to  function effectively .Based on these experiences it would be naïve and impractical to expect the constitutional dispensation envisaged in the new constitution to be  even partially functional when elections are held .Such institutions and or instruments are pertinent in enhancing the credibility  of electoral processes .

11.Guarantees for Transfer of Power

Unless there are inbuilt mechanisms and processes birthed by SADC and  the African Union on how power will be transferred if the incumbent is beaten [again]the elections will be a sheer waste of time and resources and we will have another disputed election in our hands  with shameless losers singing the familiar ”Handiende “[I am not going]tune

Mayibuye iZimbabwe

Dumisani is the chief executive officer of Habakkuk Trust and principal spokesperson of the MATABELELAND Civil Society Consortium .He writes here in his personal capacity .He can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com