Opinion / Columnist
My problem with the analysis of Bikita poll outcome
25 Jan 2017 at 11:51hrs | Views
Bikita West by-election has come and gone and in its wake left a trail of analysts exposed over their confusing and overzealous interpretation of the results. It's quite disheartening that political scientists are underrating the treacherously uneven playing field that these so called elections are being held under. After beatings , shootings, intimidating, banning of rallies, bussing in of thugs, buying of votes and declarations of illiteracy in a country with the highest literacy rate in Africa what does Zanu PF do? It points and gloats over the massive winning margin as a testament of its support. If there is a statement to describe all this is "rubbish" of the highest order.
Repulsing like a pig's breakfast. Its shocking that the likes of Madhuku and now Joyce Mujuru insist on contesting elections where opponents have zero chance of winning. The MDC-T's boycotting of these so called elections makes so much sense. The much touted coalition won't help much without major changes to the electoral playing field. This is because Zanu PF will still resort to shootings, kidnappings, beatings, torching of houses, mass starvations, threats of civil war, disappearances, massive vote buying using state resources, setting up of torture camps, deployment of militia and other state security agencies, massive vote rigging using shadowy foreign agencies, banning of rallies, churning out of hateful propaganda in state media including denying opposition any media space and the all too familiar quiet diplomacy from SADC and please analysts if all this means Zanu PF has popular electoral support then Oxford should redefine the meaning of democracy.
Another thing analysts please stop insisting on an organised opposition whilst ignoring the elephant in the room which is the uneven electoral field. Bikita West only serves to reaffirm Zanu PF's strangle hold on rural constituencies, if there is anything 2013 will be hard to repeat for Zanu PF where they bagged urban constituencies. Discontent in urban areas is hard to ignore and Zanu PF knows this, the Norton by-election proved this point no wonder why Zanu PF went for broke in Bikita West. If there is anything the opposition should fight for reforms and embark on mass voter registration campaign to urge city dwellers to register as voters in urban constituencies to ensure that they bag in massive wins in their strongholds. Other than that if there are no reforms the opposition should just boycott the 2018 polls.
Already this is under threat with Mujuru declaring that reforms or no reforms her party will contest in the 2018 polls. She has a willing compatriot in Madhuku and other obscure political parties. This is self defeating and only plays into Zanu PF hands because as long as opposition parties participate in these flawed elections Zanu PF will not change the electoral playing field. Mujuru's stance on elections all but confirms that she still serves that she is still Zanu PF and will always serve their interests.
My last plea to all political analysts is please call a spade a spade, Zanu PF has a huge unfair advantage which can't be used as a measure of its support. The fact is Zimbabwe's electoral space needs overhauling and its sad that political analysts chose to ignore this fact and rather dwell in awe at Zanu PF's flawed victory margin.
Repulsing like a pig's breakfast. Its shocking that the likes of Madhuku and now Joyce Mujuru insist on contesting elections where opponents have zero chance of winning. The MDC-T's boycotting of these so called elections makes so much sense. The much touted coalition won't help much without major changes to the electoral playing field. This is because Zanu PF will still resort to shootings, kidnappings, beatings, torching of houses, mass starvations, threats of civil war, disappearances, massive vote buying using state resources, setting up of torture camps, deployment of militia and other state security agencies, massive vote rigging using shadowy foreign agencies, banning of rallies, churning out of hateful propaganda in state media including denying opposition any media space and the all too familiar quiet diplomacy from SADC and please analysts if all this means Zanu PF has popular electoral support then Oxford should redefine the meaning of democracy.
Already this is under threat with Mujuru declaring that reforms or no reforms her party will contest in the 2018 polls. She has a willing compatriot in Madhuku and other obscure political parties. This is self defeating and only plays into Zanu PF hands because as long as opposition parties participate in these flawed elections Zanu PF will not change the electoral playing field. Mujuru's stance on elections all but confirms that she still serves that she is still Zanu PF and will always serve their interests.
My last plea to all political analysts is please call a spade a spade, Zanu PF has a huge unfair advantage which can't be used as a measure of its support. The fact is Zimbabwe's electoral space needs overhauling and its sad that political analysts chose to ignore this fact and rather dwell in awe at Zanu PF's flawed victory margin.
Source - Muzvondiwa Mago
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