THREATS to thrash the few remaining white commercial farmers, a declaration that Zanu PF had to win at all costs, political violence and the doling out of 9 000 housing stands to party youths were the highlights of Zanu PF’s campaign ahead of yesterday’s by-election in Norton.
news in depth BY OBEY MANAYITI/EVERSON MUSHAVA
The ruling party faced probably one of its toughest by-election since the MDC-T resolved to boycott elections in Zimbabwe until the government implemented electoral reforms.
Former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson Temba Mliswa, standing as an independent candidate locked horns with the ruling party’s Ronald Chindedza.
In the past fortnight, vice-presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa made chilling statements in the dormitory town as they drove home the point that Zanu PF could not afford to lose the poll.
Mnangagwa particularly made an omnious threat against white Zimbabwean farmers, saying: “The white man should go back where he came from, we will keep our Zimbabwe. If they challenge us we will thrash them.”
The rhetoric had a resemblance to President Robert Mugabe’s promise to strike fear in the white man’s heart in previous elections that turned into a bloody affair.
Observers feared the events in Norton were a precursor of what is to come during the 2018 general elections, where Mugabe at the age of 94 will be seeking another re-election in the face of an imploding economy and unfulfilled promises of the previous poll.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
A fortnight ago, Mliswa’s supporters were attacked by suspected Zanu PF members following a clash over the use of Ngoni Stadium.
The former Hurungwe West legislator’s supporters, including members of his campaign team, were left hospitalised while property, such as vehicles and houses, was destroyed during the worst political violence to rock the country in the last few months.
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure said the chaos in Norton could be a precursor of what will happen in 2018.
“This is reflective of not only what to expect in 2018, but what has been happening with Zimbabwe’s elections. Zimbabweans should expect more because this is consistent with the nature of our politics,” he said.
“Violence, biased food distribution and the residential stands are part of the paraphernalia of electoral politics played by ruling parties during elections, especially in Zimbabwe.
“I presume the other parties would have done the same if they had access to State resources.
“It will be foolhardy not to expect this kind of conduct. It’s part of Zimbabwe’s electoral politics.”
Masunungure said institutions like the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) were sleeping on duty as they were not performing their oversight role.
He said the commissions should have nipped in the bud recurring mischief that has become common during elections in Zimbabwe.
Research and Advocacy Unit chairperson Lloyd Sachikonye said the by-election had set a bad precedence ahead of the 2018 elections.
“I don’t know if this is going to be the pattern but obviously, it is bad precedence,” he said.
“What is happening now is that the emphasis is on providing certain goods and services for vote buying instead of the candidates competing on their manifestos and not engaging on the provision of resources.
“It is a very unfortunate scenario for Zimbabwe elections.”
Sachikonye said the manner in which Zec conducted its business had infuriated opposition parties who have joined forces under the National Electoral Reform Agenda to put pressure on Mugabe’s government to institute electoral reforms.
“In other circumstances, the electoral body will have a clear code of conduct with specific sanctions if a certain party does things outside the law, such as violence and vote-buying,” he said.
Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said Zanu PF always had an unfair advantage during elections since soon after independence and the trend was not likely to change.
“That has been the history of Zanu PF. The issue of patronage and the politicisation of food has been part and parcel of Zanu PF even if you ask [Zapu leader Dumiso] Dabengwa he will tell you about these things in the 1980s,” he said.
“There is really nothing new but what is shocking is the silence of Zec.”
Ruhanya said Zec’s silence in the face of electoral fraud was worrisome.
“The silence of Zec shows it is complicit in such malpractices,” he said.
“This has shown us that Zec is not an independent body but a superfluous electoral body that serves the interests of the ruling Zanu PF.
“Fundamentally, what we are seeing is an election without democracy in the sense that the fundamental civil and political liberties of citizens who do not agree with Zanu PF are being violated.
“There is an electoral law for Zanu PF and another for other participants.
“This is a clear testimony that we will not have free and fair elections if Zec does not disassociate itself from Zanu PF, as is the current case.”
Ruhanya said opposition parties must pile pressure on Zanu PF so that desirable reforms were implemented before the elections, failure of which they should forget about 2018.
“Opposition parties should make the cost of authoritarian rule very expensive and if they are not going to do that, then they should say goodbye to 2018.
“This is a mirror of what is going to come at the next harmonised elections.”
Harare-based activist Patson Dzamara said Zanu PF would do whatever it can to remain in power.
“For example, parcelling land out is despicable. Land doesn’t belong to Zanu PF. It belongs to all Zimbabweans. For Zanu PF to use land for vote buying is unacceptable and it is an exposition of their desperation,” Dzamara said.
“Overall, this offers a glimpse into what is likely going to happen in 2018. It will not be a stroll in the park. The opposition and civil society must see to it that Zanu PF is reeled in and that the playing field is level.”
Vivid Gweshe, a political commentator concurred, saying the violence in Norton was an indication that Zanu PF would not hesitate to play dirty in forthcoming polls.
“It is a sign that the party is feeling pressure from an increasingly united opposition as that poses a real threat on its electoral chances.”
“Should the opposition unite in the forthcoming elections, Zanu PF will only survive by way of electoral manipulation and the ruling party is already having a test run of its subterfuges.
“One of the vote-buying tactics we have seen are those anchored around parcelling out residential stands.
“What is worrying also is the clear inability by ZEC to run a credible, free and fair election as well as regulating the conduct of political parties by ensuring a calm campaign environment.”
Gwede said it was scandalous that Zec had kept mum as if all was normal, showing the incompetence of the commission.
“It is scandalous that Zec is keeping mum as if all is normal, which shows the incompetence of the commission. “The Constitution is clear on what type of elections ZEC should deliver because there is clear mention in the constitutional text that the elections should be free, fair and credible.”
Zimbabwe has a long history of electoral violence dating from the first polls at independence where Zapu candidates were killed while their party was prevented from campaigning in some of its strongholds in Mashonaland.
In 2009, Mugabe was forced to form an inclusive government with his foes after another bloody election the previous year where he ran alone after MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the presidential run-off amid deadly violence against his supporters.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF secretary for youths, Kudzi Chipanga last week tried to defend the parcelling out of land to youths, claiming they were only implementing Mugabe’s orders.
But he struggled to explain why the land was being allocated in Norton a few days before the by-election.
Political analyst Alexander Rusero said the Norton by-election, unlike previous polls, was a litmus test not only to the ruling Zanu PF, but for ZEC as it would gauge electoral preparedness and tolerance.
“Zanu PF has for long been a beneficiary of prolonged violence, such that morphing a new culture of peace is proving difficult for the party’s leadership except for the lip service done to denounce violence,” he said.
He said Zanu PF believed it was crucial for it to win the Norton seat as it was formerly held by firebrand Mugabe enthusiast and now fierce critic Christopher Mutsvangwa. Rusero said Zanu PF was desperate to prove to all and sundry that Mutsvangwa’s popularity was riding on Zanu PF.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said after gathering accurate intelligence reports from the CIO, the government had realised that it would suffer a humiliating defeat in 2018 if the election is free and fair.
“The Norton by-election is definitely a test run for the regime’s rigging strategy for 2018,” he said.
“In urban and peri-urban areas, the regime will dish out unserviced residential stands to people as a vote-buying gimmick. In rural areas, the regime will sharpen its instruments of both overt and covert intimidation; including physical violence against opposition supporters as well as using food aid as a vote-buying tool. Physical, emotional and psychological violence will also be a tool of choice for Zanu PF in urban and peri-urban areas.”
People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Zanu PF was targeting the urban population using violence and a new tactic of partisan distribution of stands to change the demographics. He said the situation would get worse in 2018.
“Because of the incompetence of the current Zec and the courts who stand by and watch, elections become some sort of no holds barred wrestling match,” he said.
