Opinion / Columnist
The US should not meddle in Zimbabwe politics
23 Mar 2018 at 10:24hrs | Views
The Americans are so proud of their Declaration on Independence (DoI); they hold it with such high regard even though it was a document created by a bunch of white supremacists slave owners. The fundamental idea of the declaration was not to allow the British Empire to determine the course of their future. Therefore it is mind boggling why they would assume a high moral ground and try and set conditions and terms for the Zimbabwean elections, something their own DoI is opposed to.
Part of America's declaration, made over two hundred years ago reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
If the Americans really care about the lives, freedom and happiness of other people around the world, how on earth do they qualify themselves to impose electoral conditions against small developing nations like Zimbabwe? In fact, imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe is a violation of their DoI.
The election conditions that the United States of America (USA) has set for Zimbabwe as a pre-requisite for re-engagement are next to impossible as most of them impinge on the sovereignty of our beloved nation.
It was reported in some sections of the media that the USA Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senators Chris Coons and Jeff Flake introduced a bill with demands electoral reforms before this year's elections for them to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Among other things, the USA demands that the Zimbabwe Election Commission should be replaced and another formed under the consultation of all opposition parties; remove all ex-military employees from handling election business and equal coverage of state media access to all registered parties.
Surely, in what capacity is the USA setting such stiff conditions on Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is sovereign State which believes in its self-rule. The setting of such stringent election conditions on the country can probably be an agenda by the USA to try to rig elections in favour of their proxy the MDC-T party.
This could also explain why MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa came up with his Plan and Environment for A Credible Election (PEACE) document which carries similar conditions as those set by the USA.
With only less than five months before elections, there is no way the Government can amend and implement some of the reforms that both the MDC Alliance and the USA are clamouring for.
Zimbabwe has more than 80 political parties, and the demand by the USA to allow all the players to be covered in the State owned media does not really make sense. There is only one broadcasting television, the ZBC, which is not only responsible for covering political party's events but other events outside politics. In that vein, America has no right to decide on who should be given coverage and who shouldn't.
It is really puzzling how the USA would see it fit and proper to set conditions for Zimbabwe's elections when they are in a war of words with Russia which they accuse of meddling in their own 2016 elections. President Donald Trump has been hounded by inquiry after inquiry and has had some of his campaign team members brought before Senatorial commissions for what they term improper interactions with the Russians before the 2016 elections.
Among others was the USA's Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an early and prominent supporter of Trump's campaign. In his confirmation hearings, Sessions testified that he did not have communications with Russia.
Also on 29 December 2016, the USA government announced a series of punitive measures against Russia. The former USA president Barack Obama administration imposed sanctions on four top officials of Russia's foreign intelligence agency (GRU) and declared persona non grata to 35 Russian diplomats suspected of spying; they were ordered to leave that country within 72 hours.
Zimbabwe will proceed with its plans to hold free and fair election, USA can come and observe if they so wish but, we will not bow down to pressure to amend our laws to suit their meddling hand.
Part of America's declaration, made over two hundred years ago reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
If the Americans really care about the lives, freedom and happiness of other people around the world, how on earth do they qualify themselves to impose electoral conditions against small developing nations like Zimbabwe? In fact, imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe is a violation of their DoI.
The election conditions that the United States of America (USA) has set for Zimbabwe as a pre-requisite for re-engagement are next to impossible as most of them impinge on the sovereignty of our beloved nation.
It was reported in some sections of the media that the USA Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senators Chris Coons and Jeff Flake introduced a bill with demands electoral reforms before this year's elections for them to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Among other things, the USA demands that the Zimbabwe Election Commission should be replaced and another formed under the consultation of all opposition parties; remove all ex-military employees from handling election business and equal coverage of state media access to all registered parties.
Surely, in what capacity is the USA setting such stiff conditions on Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is sovereign State which believes in its self-rule. The setting of such stringent election conditions on the country can probably be an agenda by the USA to try to rig elections in favour of their proxy the MDC-T party.
This could also explain why MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa came up with his Plan and Environment for A Credible Election (PEACE) document which carries similar conditions as those set by the USA.
With only less than five months before elections, there is no way the Government can amend and implement some of the reforms that both the MDC Alliance and the USA are clamouring for.
Zimbabwe has more than 80 political parties, and the demand by the USA to allow all the players to be covered in the State owned media does not really make sense. There is only one broadcasting television, the ZBC, which is not only responsible for covering political party's events but other events outside politics. In that vein, America has no right to decide on who should be given coverage and who shouldn't.
It is really puzzling how the USA would see it fit and proper to set conditions for Zimbabwe's elections when they are in a war of words with Russia which they accuse of meddling in their own 2016 elections. President Donald Trump has been hounded by inquiry after inquiry and has had some of his campaign team members brought before Senatorial commissions for what they term improper interactions with the Russians before the 2016 elections.
Among others was the USA's Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an early and prominent supporter of Trump's campaign. In his confirmation hearings, Sessions testified that he did not have communications with Russia.
Also on 29 December 2016, the USA government announced a series of punitive measures against Russia. The former USA president Barack Obama administration imposed sanctions on four top officials of Russia's foreign intelligence agency (GRU) and declared persona non grata to 35 Russian diplomats suspected of spying; they were ordered to leave that country within 72 hours.
Zimbabwe will proceed with its plans to hold free and fair election, USA can come and observe if they so wish but, we will not bow down to pressure to amend our laws to suit their meddling hand.
Source - Sibusiso Ndlamini
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