News / National
'Involvement of Mudede in the elections a sad story for Zimbabweans'
15 May 2015 at 12:47hrs | Views
The MDC -T organizing secretary secretary of Abednico Bhebhe has said the inclusion of the Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede in the elections in the country is a sad story to the Zimbabweans as he is known for his acts aimed at prolonging President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF misrule.
He said the reports that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Rita Makarau that ZEC can not divorce itself from Mudede as Registrar is baffling and annoying.
Makarau is said to have said that ZEC has no intention to do away with Mudede and his department.
"Reports that ZEC chair Makarau said the controversial Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede cannot be ‘divorced' from the running of elections make very sad reading," said Bhebhe.
"Makarau said Zimbabweans who have had their votes stolen by Mudede should learn to live with the reality that Mudede is here to stay "as they (Mudede's RG) were the sole authority charged with the capture, storage, issuing out and authentication of potential voters' identities."
Bhebhe said Mudede has been key to Zanu-PF's rigging machinery, tempering with the voters roll at will to ensure that even dead people are ‘resuscitated' to vote for Zanu-PF.
"The new constitution calls for the independence of the electoral body but Makarau by her statements and for whatever reason, indicts the electoral body that it cannot be trusted at all with the handling our elections," said Bhebhe.
"The constitution says there must be a re-alignment of the Electoral Act to not only cause ZECs independence but also to do away with sham elections and instill confidence in the electoral system."
He said the lack of urgency on the part of the government to harmonise the Electoral Act therefore betrays Zanu-PF's political unwillingness to create a transparent, accountable, and democratic and human rights respecting state.
"To begin with, ZEC has not even made an attempt to assume the responsibility bestowed upon it by the constitution. We wonder whether this is ZEC's decision or there are political forces influencing it," Bhebhe said. "This is an assault on people's liberties as the current Electoral Act without the necessary re-alignment renders ZEC incapable of running a free and credible election."
The organizing secretary said many other laws to ensure Zimbabweans enjoy their rights and freedoms need to be re-aligned to the new constitution.
"Zimbabweans have had their rights trampled upon since independence, and it's not surprising that those that have benefited from the infringement of people's rights for self-aggrandizement will put brakes to any processes such as the ones guaranteeing a trusted and credible vote process by saying we need Mudede," he said.
Mudede is suspected to have rigged the election on behalf of Mugabe in the 2002 presidential elections.
He said the reports that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Rita Makarau that ZEC can not divorce itself from Mudede as Registrar is baffling and annoying.
Makarau is said to have said that ZEC has no intention to do away with Mudede and his department.
"Reports that ZEC chair Makarau said the controversial Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede cannot be ‘divorced' from the running of elections make very sad reading," said Bhebhe.
"Makarau said Zimbabweans who have had their votes stolen by Mudede should learn to live with the reality that Mudede is here to stay "as they (Mudede's RG) were the sole authority charged with the capture, storage, issuing out and authentication of potential voters' identities."
Bhebhe said Mudede has been key to Zanu-PF's rigging machinery, tempering with the voters roll at will to ensure that even dead people are ‘resuscitated' to vote for Zanu-PF.
"The new constitution calls for the independence of the electoral body but Makarau by her statements and for whatever reason, indicts the electoral body that it cannot be trusted at all with the handling our elections," said Bhebhe.
"The constitution says there must be a re-alignment of the Electoral Act to not only cause ZECs independence but also to do away with sham elections and instill confidence in the electoral system."
He said the lack of urgency on the part of the government to harmonise the Electoral Act therefore betrays Zanu-PF's political unwillingness to create a transparent, accountable, and democratic and human rights respecting state.
"To begin with, ZEC has not even made an attempt to assume the responsibility bestowed upon it by the constitution. We wonder whether this is ZEC's decision or there are political forces influencing it," Bhebhe said. "This is an assault on people's liberties as the current Electoral Act without the necessary re-alignment renders ZEC incapable of running a free and credible election."
The organizing secretary said many other laws to ensure Zimbabweans enjoy their rights and freedoms need to be re-aligned to the new constitution.
"Zimbabweans have had their rights trampled upon since independence, and it's not surprising that those that have benefited from the infringement of people's rights for self-aggrandizement will put brakes to any processes such as the ones guaranteeing a trusted and credible vote process by saying we need Mudede," he said.
Mudede is suspected to have rigged the election on behalf of Mugabe in the 2002 presidential elections.
Source - Byo24News
