Our vote or face: Which right to protect?

Simmering tension brew across the entire body politic in the country as the national polling day draw near. The major standoff lies with the processes that lead to free, fair and credible election. Firstly, the issue of ballot paper procurement, designing, printing, storage and distribution embroiled the atmosphere as ZEC refuses to entertain concerns from other competing parties, chief among them are the issues of voters' roll and ballot paper processes. The opposition, at one hand, agitates for biometric voters' roll whereas ZEC availed a traditional one without images of voters. This has sparked wild condemnations in the opposition circles, but the matter remains unresolved. In the wake of that, one of the aggrieved parties MDC-Alliance took to the streets to register their concerns and more and more protests are lined up prior to the voting day.

On the other hand, ZEC's resolve to maintain the status quo remains unshakable as its commissioners romp-up to defend its actions whenever critics blow the whistle. This trend and series of counter-accusations has gone too far and it is not known when and how it shall come to an end. Ideally, the battle lines has been drawn.

But the greatest fear lies on the future of the country which is already teetering on the brink should the crisis reaches alarming levels. As it is common knowledge that when the bulls fight it is the grass that suffers. Will it be suffer continue for Zimbabweans? I guess this is the opportune time to redress the mess using the ballot paper. My hunch, as a voter, is that ZEC has the obligation to avail a searchable and analysable BVR, anything short of this is a clear violation of the supreme law of this country. Justice Chigumba's interpretation falls short of a learned and respected judge, she was renegading, bungling and dicing with the minds of registered voters, something which is unacceptable given that the current new dispensation is preaching reconciliation, reformation and transformation. Now that we are heading for a defining moment, a very crucial stage where we anticipate the old regime to demonstrate spirit of inclusivity so as to unite the entire country. The impression that a ticket to state house is a straight jacket is long gone, it's the will of the people that must prevail after all.

In addition, it must be known that the people are not worried about their faces but the vote. After all, we gave ZEC our faces with a purpose, that of our vote. ZEC must bear in mind that our faces appear on various public foras: Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc, but rather the vote is no where save for one's heart. Hence, a vote remains one's secret which must be protected jealously.

It is abundantly clear that our vote worthies more than our faces. Justice Chigumba must focus more on safe guarding our vote because it is the vote that counts not the faces.

Had it been the face that counts, Zanu-PF would be history as we are all aware that former president Mugabe rarely addressed a well attended rally in 2008 compared to his counterpart Morgan Tsvangirai. Needles to say, we are reminiscent that the same ZEC held hostage results of the first round when they became aware that Tsvangirai trounced their paymaster Mugabe. For almost three weeks, ZEC had the results but wouldn't pronounce the winner.

It is worth mentioning that the same MDC led by Dr Nero was the victim of a villain ZEC, so how can they support a thief. Once bitten twice shy. MDC Alliance is very sceptical, it will do things meticulously because of the past.

In nutshell, those criticizing the position taken by the opposition group are missing the point unless they are ruling party sycophants and appendages. The fact is the battle lies on the protection of the vote not the face or the law. Protecting the law without protecting the vote is good for nothing.

ichoooo!