MDC formations, chickens out of by- elections

Recent reports has it that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his allies together with the Renewal team have decided not to participate in the next coming by elections in Mt Darwin West and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituencies after President Mugabe declared 27th of March as the by-elections date.

Mr Tsvangirai, is this democracy you are crying for? Actually, you are fooling your supporters in these two constituencies by depriving their rights to participate in those by elections. Most governments, inclusive of our own government, consider participating in national elections as a right of citizenship. Some governments however, consider that participation at elections as a citizen's civic responsibility.

Hence, it is a right for every electorate, including the MDC-T supporters, to exercise their rights as citizens of Zimbabwe despite decisions by their useless leader who is problematic.  

What these opposition parties unaware of is that choosing to boycott any form of an election guarantees victory to the ruling party, so who cares?

It is noted that MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora, confirmed his party position and explained that,

"Our congress resolutions are that we will not participate in any election or by-election until there has been electoral reforms, security sector reforms and media reforms," he said.

The fact that these by elections will be held in constituencies that are MDC no-go-area has indeed made these two formations to chicken out. In 2008 and 2013 ZANU-PF won in this Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency. The same also applies to Mt Darwin West which has been a ZANU-PF strong hold ever since MDC's inception in politics.

It is also said MDC- Renewal team spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, told one of the local tabloids that his party was not going to participate in the by-elections without reforms.

"We need significant reforms and without those reforms we will not participate in those by-elections," Mafume said.

Honestly, the MDC formations have useless strategies. By choosing not to take party in the March by elections, the two formations have exposed their lack of foresight and planning. What these two political parties have depicted is the fact that there are politically naïve. How can mature political leaders make such poor and shallow political decisions?

Well, if these two parties stick to their word of boycotting the elections, then we give them credit as uncontested elections save resources. Those funds can be diverted to other economic development programmes that can help prop-up the implementation of Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation. After, all your participation in these coming by elections will be only a formality because ZANU-PF is invincible.

It is well known that these two MDCs are just hiding behind the demand for electoral reforms, whilst reality on the ground is that they are quite sure of getting trounced by the ruling party. Consequently, the truth is the two MDC formations are finding ways to stay away because they already know that the outcome is fruitless on their side.

Last year, the then MDC-T secretary-general, Nelson Chamisa, also highlighted that MDC-T will abandon all coming elections because the results will never be favourable to them.

"There is no need for us to participate in elections that don't give us favourable results. What we want is to have a new electoral board that is independent, that will avail an electronic voter's roll and enable automatic registration of all Zimbabweans over 18 years," Chamisa once uttered.

MDC-T has tried all means to shake ZANU-PF but unfortunately, the ruling party is unconquerable. All opposition parties will never have alternative policies that can replace ZANU-PF's policies; hence, they remain politically immature.
                                       
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Chido Chikuni <chidochikuni@gmail.com