'Mugabe must pay for illegal Presidency'

Robert Mugabe should compensate the state and nation for the benefits he has drawn from the national coffers since 2002 when he became an 'illegitimate' head of state after stealing the elections, say political analysts.

The call follows publication of a report compiled by South African judges saying that the 2002 elections fell far short of international standards for free and fair polls.

Although some feel the report comes too late for action, some analysts and opposition parties say Mugabe and Zanu-PF should be held accountable for ruining the country without the people's mandate.

Respected political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, told The Zimbabwean that now that it has been confirmed that Mugabe has not been a legitimate leader since the 2002 election, whatever he has been earning since then was illegal.

"Zimbabweans should demand 12 years reparations from Mugabe on the strength of the South African judges' report. He should pay back all finances received from the state under the political parties' financing Act," said Ngwenya, suggesting that fresh elections be held to come up with a legitimate government.

He partly blamed SADC and South Africa in particular, for dismissing enormous quantities of evidence from the MDC as well as local, regional and international human rights organisations that Zanu-PF rigged elections through terror and other means.

ZAPU stretched the Mugabe and Zanu-PF's illegitimacy to 34 years dating back to 1980, when the country attained independence from its former colonial master, the British.

Mjobise Noko, ZAPU spokesperson, said Zanu never won elections as the 1980 elections 'were won by ZAPU, only for the British to parcel the victory to Mugabe since he was their darling'.

Mugabe, Noko said, would remain in power by hook and crook since he will never let go the state house.

"If Zimbabwe had an independent judiciary, people would seek redress following the release of the South Africa judges report on the 2002 elections.

"The main problem would be that we would need evidence and what the South Africa courts decide does not bind here since Zimbabwe is a sovereign state," Noko said, emphasising that Mugabe should pay for the 34 years he stayed in power illegitimately.

The MDC Renewal Team placed the blame at former South Africa president, Thambo Mbeki's door steps, accusing him of sitting on the election report whose contents he was aware of.

Jacob Mafume, spokesperson for The Renewal Team, said Mbeki endorsed results of Zimbabwe's flawed elections fully aware of prevailing irregularities.

"The judges' report is a timeous indictment on Mbeki and am glad that it came out whilst he is alive.

"It has put the deserved taint on Mbeki's legacy," said Mafume blaming Mbeki for discrediting his leadership through failure to stand by the majority of Zimbabweans whose election was stolen broad day light.

Mbeki, Mafume said, was a classic example of cowards who failed to stand for the truth.

He said the report vindicated what Zimbabwe's democratic forces had always said about the flowed elections.

Gorden Mutize, a Murewa businessperson, said the report was good news for the nation but unfortunately had come too late for the elections to be re-run.

"The fact that it took some 12 years for the report to be made public makes us sick.

"The report would not make any difference now but all the same the culprits should be brought to account," said Mutize.

The MDC led by Welshman Ncube could not give a comment as it said it had not heard of the judges' report.

Nhlanhla Dube, MDC spokesperson said: "Please call me later, maybe I will have seen or heard of the report for me to comment authoritatively."

Evans Sadomba, Mavambo/Kusile spokesperson, was not in a position to comment as he wanted to sleep.

MDC-T hailed the report as confirmation of its earlier concerns that Mugabe and Zanu-PF have always rigged their way to office.

Obert Gutu, MDC-T spokesperson said: "How we wish the report had come out early enough for the AU and SADC to at least call for fresh elections."

Observers said though nothing could be done to do justice to the elections in question, the report would help the AU, SADC and other observers to be wiser the next time Zimbabwe conducts elections.

The report which was released last week following legal pressure applied by the Mail & Guardian was compiled under the request of Mbeki.

South Africa High Court judges Dikgang Moseneke and Sisi Khampepe compiled the report which in part reads; "These Zimbabwe elections of 2002 in our view, cannot be considered to be free and fair since the electoral laws were drastically amended and manipulated by executive decrees, resulting in consequences being felt upon voter education and the voters roll."

The judges said they reached the conclusion that the 2002 presidential election was not free and fair after having regard to all the circumstances, and in particular the cumulative substantial departure from international standards of free and fair elections found in Zimbabwe during the pre-election period.

After winning the 2002 presidential election under controversial circumstances, Mugabe went on to claim disputed victories at successive polls in 2008 and 2013.

Zimbabwe would be going to another harmonised election in 2018.