MDC-T demands electoral and political reforms

From the time that the young and fledging political party known as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), began to participate in elections in Zimbabwe in June, 2000, the ZanuPF regime has always manipulated and bastardised the electoral playing field. However, against all odds, the MDC-T has proved to be a formidable political party that has clearly emerged as the largest and most popular political party in Zimbabwe; over a short period of only 15 years. Ever since the formation of the MDC-T in September, 1999, ZanuPF has been in terminal decline and it is just a matter of time before this moribund political organisation is confined to the dustbin of history.

At its hugely successful 4th national congress that was held at the City Sports centre in Harare from October 31, 2014 to November 2, 2014, the MDC-T adopted a number of key and historic resolutions. One of these resolutions was that the party shall not participate in any elections until and unless electoral and political reforms have been undertaken to ensure that all elections to be held thereafter will produce a legitimate result that is beyond contestation. This key resolution was, of course, largely influenced by the unprecedented rigging and manipulation of the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections. It doesn't take rocket science for all right - thinking people to appreciate that the July 31, 2013 plebiscite was marred by serious electoral irregularities that were engineered by a certain company known as Nikuv; which company was paid top dollar by ZanuPF in order to rig the elections. Thus, it would be folly for the MDC, nor indeed for any other serious political party for that matter, to expect a legitimate, free and fair election to be held in Zimbabwe before key electoral reforms have been undertaken. For the avoidance of doubt, the MDC, would like to articulate the electoral and political reforms that have to be carried out in Zimbabwe as a matter of extreme urgency :

-    The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), should undertake a  biometric national voter registration exercise that will give rise to the creation of a clean and accurate voters' roll. The voters' roll that was inherited from the Registrar - General's office by ZEC is littered with gross irregularities that include, but are not limited to, the inclusion of thousands of names of deceased people;

-    The secretariat of ZEC is largely composed of military and State security agents. This secretariat has to be completely dismantled in order to come up with a professional and unbiased secretariat that is capable of conducting a free and fair election at any given moment in time;

-    All political parties and players should be accorded equal and unfettered access to the State - controlled print and electronic media in accordance with the provisions of the new Constitution of Zimbabwe that was adopted in May,2013;

-    All the provisions of the new Constitution of Zimbabwe should be implemented to enable Zimbabweans to enjoy their rights as clearly espoused in the Bill of Rights e.g. there should be genuine opening up of the airwaves instead of giving radio and television licences only to ZanuPF - affiliated companies and individuals;

-    Traditional leaders should be completely apolitical in accordance with the dictates of the new Constitution of Zimbabwe. The ZanuPF regime should not commandeer and intimidate traditional leaders to partake in partisan political activities. Put alternatively, all traditional leaders should not engage, directly or indirectly, in any political activities;

-    All political parties and players should have free and unrestricted access to all corners of the country. No political party should be prevented from holding meetings, rallies etc in any part of Zimbabwe. In other words, the ZanuPF regime shouldn't create virtual no go areas for other competing political players

-    All elections to be held in Zimbabwe should be in strict accordance with the SADC norms and conditions for the holding of free and fair elections;

-    Election observers from SADC, the AU, the EU, the UN etc should be free to come and observe any elections that are held in Zimbabwe.

The MDC-T reiterates that as soon as the above - mentioned electoral and political reforms are carried out, it will be able, ready and willing to participate in any elections. Indeed, the MDC-T is poised to resoundingly win any free and fair elections that will be held in Zimbabwe at any time.