Opinion / Columnist
Mugabe's new onslaught
23 Nov 2016 at 08:41hrs | Views
Ephraim Tapa at the Vigil
The ruthless crushing of the latest anti-government demonstration in Harare, combined with news that the army is recruiting thousands more soldiers, suggest that Zanu-PF's strategy for stealing elections has not changed.
The scenario is confirmed by the announcement that the diaspora will only be allowed to vote in 2018 if they return home to register and stay on or return again for the ballot – despite the lauded 2013 constitution giving every Zimbabwean the right to vote.
The Zimbabwean diaspora is believed to number some 4 million - the overwhelmingly majority of voting age. The registered electorate at home is put at around 6.6 million, so the diaspora would have a decisive say.
Rita Makarau, chair of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, said that the electoral laws had not yet been aligned with the new constitution. The Vigil thinks that this is a step that Zanu-PF is never likely to take, making our wonderful constitution a hollow mockery.
The Vigil is not surprised that six activists were shot at and beaten up ahead of Friday's planned demonstration against the introduction of ‘bond notes'. Ishmail Kauzani, who was driving one of the two cars containing the activists when they were blocked by unmarked pick-up trucks, said he managed to escape into the night under a hail of gunfire. 'They were firing on us when we were still driving - many, many shots. It was like a war zone, a barrage of bullets', he said. .
Although the Vigil was not surprised by the regime's ambush we were surprised at the lack of wider support for the demonstration given the opposition's promises to confront Mugabe on the streets.
We were even more surprised to see Mugabe making his way down the long red carpet in Marrakech for the UN climate change convention. Not surprised by his futile attendance at yet another back-slapping event but that he could walk unassisted.
It seems that it's the opposition which needs help. If it is to win in 2018 it must insist that the constitution is fully implemented well before the election or it will be just another waste of time. If there's no level playing field the opposition this time must refuse to take part in Zanu-PF's charade.
Source - the Vigil
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