Maravi

(SUNDAY MAIL ZIMBABWE) Of soft-rigging and self-defeat

Of soft-rigging and self-defeat
Political Editor Munyaradzi Huni

SO it’s true. The just-ended harmonised elections were rigged. They were not free and fair. The opposition MDC is right — the playing field was not even. In fact, there was extortion of national proportions. While the "soft-rigging" was in full swing, the ruling party, Zanu-PF was also busy inflicting defeat on itself. The imposition of candidates and the divisions in the party following the primary elections worked against Zanu-PF during the elections.

The "soft-rigging" played a major part so the matter will be dealt with first. Yes, the elections were rigged! The US and UK sanctions rigged the elections on behalf of the MDC. Zimbabweans were given a tough choice — "either you vote for the MDC or you continue to starve".

Unfortunately some Zimbabweans "listened to the politics of the stomach" and voted for the MDC, but fortunately there were some that understood the source of the current hardships and voted for Zanu-PF. And so, despite the rigging, the MDC has not yet been smuggled into power and indications are that Zimbabweans will have another opportunity to defend their beloved country.

The US and UK governments will argue that the sanctions are targeted at a few top Zanu-PF and Government officials, but it’s an open secret that the sanctions are affecting the ordinary people. The MDC will chip in saying "no, it’s not the sanctions that are causing the current hardships, it’s the Government that has mismanaged the economy", but the truth is there for everyone to see.

Yes, it’s agreed that to some extent the Government may be to blame for some of the problems currently facing the country, but to a larger extent the hardships emanate from the illegal sanctions imposed on the country in a bid to reverse the land reform programme.

And those who doubted that the sanctions were meant to reverse the land reform programme must have eaten humble pie last week when former white farmers flocked back into the country and started threatening new resettled farmers after their rushed conclusion that the MDC was getting into power. Their impatience and arrogance was just too shocking and could cost MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai dearly. It will soon be a case of "so near and yet so far".

If only Morgan could control these Rhodies!

But Africa has a big lesson to learn from Zimbabwe. In fact, it’s not Africa alone — all weaker nations have a big lesson to draw from Zimbabwe. There is need for a serious rethink on the issue of sanctions and elections.

The UK and US have mastered the art of imposing illegal sanctions on governments that do not "play to their tune" and they use these sanctions to smuggle governments of their choice into power. Zimbabwe is the latest victim and thank God Zimbabweans have refused to surrender their country despite the hardships caused by the sanctions, but how many weaker nations will be victims of this "soft-rigging?"

Yes, it is "soft-rigging" because these two powerful nations will turn on the screw on the country, ensure that people in the weaker nations turn against their governments by creating sanctions-induced hardships and sponsor the opposition party that will protect their interests in the said country.

In the spirit of democracy, governments in the weaker nations agree to go for elections, despite the fact that the sanctions will have tilted the balance in favour of the preferred opposition and the governments are pushed out of power. Fortunately, some Zimbabweans as a people who went through a bloody liberation struggle stood firm to support their Government.

Now what should the weaker nations do to fight this "soft-rigging" because it is clear that the trick will be used as and when these powerful nations feel like removing certain governments from power? Should weaker nations continue holding elections even if they are under illegal sanctions? The time has come for the weaker nations to take a stand against the illegal sanctions. Let’s take, for example, the case of Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Tendai Savanhu. In the just ended House of Assembly elections, he got 6 121 votes against the MDC candidate who won 7 520 votes. Who doubts that if it weren’t for the "soft-rigging" Cde Savanhu would have won the seat?

Another good example is that of Rtd Colonel Tshinga Dube in Makokoba. No one doubts that Cde Dube is a man of the people. He is a darling of many in Bulawayo for whenever Highlanders get stuck due to lack of funds, he generously chips in but still the sanctions rigged the elections in favour of the MDC. The examples are just too many.

When the un-elected British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown, thought the sanctions had rigged the MDC into power, he got impatient. Said Mr Brown: "Two things are important. First, that the results come forward soon . . . secondly, that the election (result) is fair and representative."

The UK’s Minister for Africa, Mr Malloch Brown, added his voice saying: "It’s quite clear President Mugabe has lost despite massive pre-election day cheating."

Big Brother America could also not wait any longer leaving its Secretary of State, Ms Condolleeza Rice, to mumble something to the effect that the "election results should be announced soon".

The impatience by the US and the UK clearly exposed the "soft-rigging". They wanted results to be announced "fast" before Zanu-PF sobered up to detect their machinations. Unfortunately for them, the deal is not yet done and they will have to fight another day.

One school of thought is that any country that is under illegal sanctions should not hold elections. But then some will ask — "who will define the legality of the sanctions?" Others will ask — "Won’t this be used by dictators as a means of refusing to leave power?" Not at all because this is when international organisations like the United Nations should come in. This is when regional organisations like Sadc should come in.

If a country is put under sanctions without the approval of the UN and without approval from the regional body where that country is situated, then the sanctions are illegal and such a country should not go for elections.

Like in the case of Zimbabwe, the US government passed the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act 2001 that imposed sanctions against the country without approval from the UN. In fact, the UK and US governments have tried to make Zimbabwe a "UN issue", but their repeated attempts have failed.

On the other hand, Sadc, the regional body where Zimbabwe belongs, has come out in the open calling for the removal of sanctions against the country and that on its own is enough to define the sanctions as illegal. Of course, this school of thought can be refined but what is clear is that weaker nations should as a matter of urgency come up with a solution to the "soft-rigging" by the US and the UK otherwise these two nations will re-colonise the world using their puppet governments.

And so back to the self-defeating antics by Zanu-PF. The ruling party defeated itself in many constituencies through the imposition of candidates. It boggles the mind how Zanu-PF that all along claimed that the rural areas are its stronghold, got just six out of 26 House of Assembly constituencies in Manicaland.

If one looks at the voting patterns in Manicaland Province, it is clear that the party lost heavily due to the imposition of candidates. In Buhera Central, Zanu-PF got 7 092 votes while the MDC got just 8 763. In Buhera South Zanu-PF got 7 613 votes while the MDC got just 8 833. In Chimanimani West Zanu-PF got 7 107 votes while the MDC got 8 558 votes.

The trend was even more worrying in Makoni North where the two Zanu-PF candidates got 7 139 votes but still lost to the MDC that got 5 055. One of the ruling party candidates had 3 657 while the other had 3 482. In Makoni West the problem was almost the same because the MDC won with 6 187 votes while one of the ruling party candidates had 2 585 votes while the other had 2 394 votes.

In Masvingo Province, the ruling party faced the same problem in Gutu North where the party garnered 4 343 votes against 5 045 votes. The same problem almost cost the party the Gutu West constituency as the ruling party candidate won with 5 054 votes against the MDC’s 4 082. The ruling party could have increased its votes in the same constituency as it had another candidate who got 2 384 votes. It should be very worrying to the party that it got just 12 out of 26 seats in Masvingo Province.

Put simply — the ruling party bungled big time. The imposition of candidates and the failure to deal with differences that emanated from the primary elections divided voters and caused voter apathy in many constituencies. If Zanu-PF entertains the hope of winning back the people, then it should take a deep look at how it conducts primary elections.

Another issue that needs to be handled carefully is the issue of the quota system for women. While it is agreed that women should be given their quota, there seems to be a tendency now to field women in some constituencies as a way of blocking some male candidates.

Unfortunately, this is self-defeating because while it will appear as if the party is pushing women up, the women will eventually lose to the opposition. So it’s not only about fielding a woman candidate. It’s also about winning the seat and this means that if there is a male candidate who is the people’s choice, then the people’s choice should prevail otherwise the seat will go to the opposition.

The elections produced many surprises, winners and losers. Check the list below:

Star of the Elections

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for handling the elections so well. The police force comes a strong second for maintaining peace around the country.

Flop of the elections

Dr Simba Makoni. He came with so much pomposity and disappeared as soon as the elections started.

Joker of the elections

Mr Langton Towungana — he was in this election but never there.

Boob of the elections

Professor Welshman Ncube. He chose to challenge Ms Thokozani Khupe and by doing so started digging his political grave. The Zanu-PF commissariat comes a close second for the boobs and blunders that cost the party dearly.

Most pained casualty

Mr Job Sikhala. They say Job has become jobless.

Most improved

Mr Tsvangirai — there is no denying the fact that he is showing signs that he has travelled a bit in politics. No wonder why Dr Makoni was no match.

Most uninspiring

Professor Arthur Mutambara — He chickened out of the race at the last minute and chose to side with another big loser in Dr Makoni.

As we all know, the eventual winner has not yet been announced.

The battle is still on but Zimbabweans have to be commended for showing political maturity and tolerance. All eyes were on Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans showed the world that indeed democracy is alive in the country. Just to add, the Zanu-PF Government has also proved to the world that it doesn’t rig elections.

Labels: ELECTIONS, NEOCOLONIALISM, SANCTIONS, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 12:22 PM