News / Local
Mnangagwa under pressure from EU over Chamisa attacks
28 Aug 2022 at 08:19hrs | Views
THE European Union (EU) has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to allow the opposition to campaign freely following increasing violent attacks on Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members by suspected Zanu-PF supporters.
Ruling party fanatics unleashed violence on CCC members last week to block opposition leader Nelson Chamisa from addressing campaign rallies as political tensions heat up months away from the 2023 polls
Scores of CCC supporters were injured in Wedza, Murewa and Gokwe last week in violent attacks by Zanu-PF youth to block Chamisa from addressing his supporters
Chamisa also survived two assassination attempts last year while on his rural voter mobilisation tours.
Police have on several occasions blocked the CCC from holding rallies, while allowing Mnangagwa and other Zanu-PF members to hold the same.
In an exclusive interview with The Standard on Thursday, outgoing EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen urged the Zanu-PF leader to abide by the constitution and allow the opposition to campaign freely.
"Elections are very important for any democracy. We need to give people the right to vote, to express their political preferences and mandate for them to be governed. That is why 2023 will be an important year for Zimbabwe," Olkkonen said.
"The good thing about the 2018 election was the campaigning period prior to the election day itself.
"Of course, we have had unfortunate events of the first of August and after, but prior to that, one would witness that the campaigning period was free from violence, free for campaigning without harassment.
"That will be good if the campaigning freedom could be replicated in next year's election."
In August 2018, six civilians were killed when soldiers opened live ammunition on post-election protesters demanding the release of presidential election results.
Mnangagwa appointed a commission led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate the killings.
The aim was to punish the perpetrators and find lasting solutions to avoid the same to happen.
But four years later, there have been no arrests or prosecutions.
"I wouldn't say that we need to copy everything that was done in 2018 but at least the fact that all political parties campaign freely and that is something that I hope to see in the upcoming election," Olkkonen said.
In May, the European Union Observer Mission (EUOM) said Zimbabwe had failed to implement its recommendations and other electoral reforms to guarantee free and fair elections in 2023.
The EU mission made 23 recommendations after the disputed 2018 elections, including the alignment of the Electoral Act to the Constitution and that the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) must be observed.
"The recommendations are based on international best practices. They are not European recommendations but they are from experts who have a lot of experience on how elections work around the world.
"So I think there is still time for electoral reforms but the window opportunity is obviously closing," Olkkonen said.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday accused the opposition of provoking ruling party supporters, resulting in political violence.
"Police say they have reports of violence from across the political divide. Notwithstanding the heat of by-elections, such violence is uncalled for as we seek unity and harmony in a democratic dispensation," Mutsvangwa said.
"That said, the President called on party supporters not to fall into provocations by an opposition which organizes rallies that are bent on trolling Zanu-PF."
Analysts and independent election watchdogs have warned of a violent run-up to the 2023 elections.
On Friday, Chamisa ruled out boycotting elections over political violence and failure to implement electoral reforms.
Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in the disputed 2018 elections.
The Constitutional Court however upheld Mnangagwa's victory, but Chamisa insists he was cheated out of victory.
Mnangagwa has been endorsed as Zanu-PF's presidential candidate, and is likely to square off with Chamisa again as his main challenger for the presidency.
Ruling party fanatics unleashed violence on CCC members last week to block opposition leader Nelson Chamisa from addressing campaign rallies as political tensions heat up months away from the 2023 polls
Scores of CCC supporters were injured in Wedza, Murewa and Gokwe last week in violent attacks by Zanu-PF youth to block Chamisa from addressing his supporters
Chamisa also survived two assassination attempts last year while on his rural voter mobilisation tours.
Police have on several occasions blocked the CCC from holding rallies, while allowing Mnangagwa and other Zanu-PF members to hold the same.
In an exclusive interview with The Standard on Thursday, outgoing EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen urged the Zanu-PF leader to abide by the constitution and allow the opposition to campaign freely.
"Elections are very important for any democracy. We need to give people the right to vote, to express their political preferences and mandate for them to be governed. That is why 2023 will be an important year for Zimbabwe," Olkkonen said.
"The good thing about the 2018 election was the campaigning period prior to the election day itself.
"Of course, we have had unfortunate events of the first of August and after, but prior to that, one would witness that the campaigning period was free from violence, free for campaigning without harassment.
"That will be good if the campaigning freedom could be replicated in next year's election."
In August 2018, six civilians were killed when soldiers opened live ammunition on post-election protesters demanding the release of presidential election results.
Mnangagwa appointed a commission led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate the killings.
The aim was to punish the perpetrators and find lasting solutions to avoid the same to happen.
But four years later, there have been no arrests or prosecutions.
"I wouldn't say that we need to copy everything that was done in 2018 but at least the fact that all political parties campaign freely and that is something that I hope to see in the upcoming election," Olkkonen said.
In May, the European Union Observer Mission (EUOM) said Zimbabwe had failed to implement its recommendations and other electoral reforms to guarantee free and fair elections in 2023.
The EU mission made 23 recommendations after the disputed 2018 elections, including the alignment of the Electoral Act to the Constitution and that the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) must be observed.
"The recommendations are based on international best practices. They are not European recommendations but they are from experts who have a lot of experience on how elections work around the world.
"So I think there is still time for electoral reforms but the window opportunity is obviously closing," Olkkonen said.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday accused the opposition of provoking ruling party supporters, resulting in political violence.
"Police say they have reports of violence from across the political divide. Notwithstanding the heat of by-elections, such violence is uncalled for as we seek unity and harmony in a democratic dispensation," Mutsvangwa said.
"That said, the President called on party supporters not to fall into provocations by an opposition which organizes rallies that are bent on trolling Zanu-PF."
Analysts and independent election watchdogs have warned of a violent run-up to the 2023 elections.
On Friday, Chamisa ruled out boycotting elections over political violence and failure to implement electoral reforms.
Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in the disputed 2018 elections.
The Constitutional Court however upheld Mnangagwa's victory, but Chamisa insists he was cheated out of victory.
Mnangagwa has been endorsed as Zanu-PF's presidential candidate, and is likely to square off with Chamisa again as his main challenger for the presidency.
Source - The Standard
