Opinion / Columnist
Chamisa's test of character
22 Aug 2018 at 07:17hrs | Views
It seems that today is the peak of all the events since November 2017. It is the absolute climax of a period unlike any other in Zimbabwean history. We should all be happy and grateful that we were here to live through it, to see the progress of our country towards the democracy. We are moving forward towards that final goal.
And free democracy, after all, is the goal. We yearn for nothing more than the just rule of the people by the people. We pray for this every day, not only these three days as called for by Chamisa. We are closer to democracy than we have ever been in the history of our nation. We should be proud of this.
The campaign trail was characterised by the refreshing and prevailing freedom of speech. Real campaigns. A real election season. The social media outreach of all candidates touched almost every Zimbabwean, and especially the young, got involved in long discussions of policy.
The whole world came to observe the elections. Independent watchdogs like ZESN declared the polls free and fair. ZEC declared a winner. And now, as the last act, the Constitutional Court will decide on the legitimacy of the whole process.
Ironically, all the main players are students and practitioners of the law. Both President Mnangagwa and Advocate Nelson Chamisa are lawyers, and of course ZEC chairwoman Priscilla Chigumba was a judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe. They all know that the law shall reign supreme.
And thus, they all should accept the outcome of the court case. ED already declared that in his view, the ConCourt's decision is binding, no matter its direction. Chamisa should make a similar declaration. Loud and clear!
Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity to do so at his last presser. While he had no problem arguing for and accepting the decision of the courts to dismiss thousands of workers in the ZUVA case, hurting so many ordinary citizens, this time he brazenly and pre-emptively defies any outcome that does not benefit him personally. Shame.
We Zimbabweans should not be fooled by this hypocrisy. We should adhere to the objective: true democracy and the rule of the law.
And free democracy, after all, is the goal. We yearn for nothing more than the just rule of the people by the people. We pray for this every day, not only these three days as called for by Chamisa. We are closer to democracy than we have ever been in the history of our nation. We should be proud of this.
The campaign trail was characterised by the refreshing and prevailing freedom of speech. Real campaigns. A real election season. The social media outreach of all candidates touched almost every Zimbabwean, and especially the young, got involved in long discussions of policy.
The whole world came to observe the elections. Independent watchdogs like ZESN declared the polls free and fair. ZEC declared a winner. And now, as the last act, the Constitutional Court will decide on the legitimacy of the whole process.
Ironically, all the main players are students and practitioners of the law. Both President Mnangagwa and Advocate Nelson Chamisa are lawyers, and of course ZEC chairwoman Priscilla Chigumba was a judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe. They all know that the law shall reign supreme.
And thus, they all should accept the outcome of the court case. ED already declared that in his view, the ConCourt's decision is binding, no matter its direction. Chamisa should make a similar declaration. Loud and clear!
Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity to do so at his last presser. While he had no problem arguing for and accepting the decision of the courts to dismiss thousands of workers in the ZUVA case, hurting so many ordinary citizens, this time he brazenly and pre-emptively defies any outcome that does not benefit him personally. Shame.
We Zimbabweans should not be fooled by this hypocrisy. We should adhere to the objective: true democracy and the rule of the law.
Source - Tom Nkala
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