'No to a flawed election,' says Zapu

THE Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) has said it does not fear to participate in any election held under flawed conditions, but will only participated when the polls are held in transparency and according to the law as provided for in the new constitution.

Speaking ahead of the contentious June 10 parliamentary election meant to fill up 14 seats left vacant following the recall of 21 former MDC T parliamentarians, ZAPU spokesperson Mjobisa Noko said the revolutionary party has adopted a wait and see attitude to see how Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and the ruling ZANU PF  government will adhere to the constitutional requirements for a democratic, free and fair election.

Of these 21 empty seats, seven were on proportional representation therefore not being contested with the MDC T going to make nominations in order to fill the vacancies.

"ZAPU's national executive council met recently in Gweru and among other topical issues resolved that ZAPU  is very much happy and confident to participate in any election be it on a chilly morning or in the dead of the night but only if the constitution is followed," said Noko.

Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and the ZAPU party  has taken the Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC) and the justice  minister  Emerson Mnangagwa to court over failure by the former to independently oversee the overall running of the election processes as stipulated in the constitution, said Mr Noko, adding that  party is however still preparing for the June 10 polls while awaiting the constitutional court's ruling in the matter to be heard on the 27th April.

According to Section 239 (c) of the current constitution adopted in 2013 and Section 17A of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] "The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission shall commence forthwith to conduct voter registration in all wards and constituencies throughout Zimbabwe."

On the other hand, section 239(d) tasks the election body with the sole responsibility of compiling new voters' rolls and registers for all wards and constituencies throughout Zimbabwe while abolishing the use of the voter's roll previously compiled by the Registrar General's office which used to have that legal responsibility.

Meanwhile, the MDC renewal team that was sacked from parliament, led by former Harare East MP Tendai Biti who met the same fate over defecting from the MDC T which earned them tickets into the house of assembly, is challenging the move in the courts saying that they are still within the MDC T party as one centers of power, putting a dent on the prospects of the scheduled elections.

On ZAPU's state, Mr Noko said the party's national executive committee agreed to a request from the youths and women's wings to push dates for conferences of the two wings to allow for polishing up of preparations as well as the ongoing restructuring exercise.

"The youth front and the Zimbabwe African Women's Union (ZAWU) which is our women's formation requested for more time for preparations of the upcoming two respective conferences which was granted.

"However all is in place and we have since adopted themes for the two conferences .For the women, the theme is 'Empowering women for gender equality' while for the youth conference the theme is 'revolution is a relay its now our time' added the ZAPU spokesperson.

On the possibility of a coalition with the MDC Renewal team as well as the Simba Makoni led Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn party, Mr Noko admitted that ZAPU is keen to team up with all democratic forces in Zimbabwe but on clear terms adding that the unclear leadership structure of some partners was stalling progress as there was no one in their official party capacity to speak to.

He however stated that one clear condition was that the revolutionary ZAPU party will never change its name.

ZAPU also maintained that the party is prepared to forge alliance with any democratic force in the country which among other things supports devolution of power, highly upholds the issue of human rights as well as respect for the values of the liberation struggle.