Zanu PF rigged 2018 and, with no reforms, is likewise rigging 2023 - holy grail is to deny it legitimacy

There are three questions anyone serious about getting Zimbabwe out of this economic and political mess must asked oneself, a CCC supporter and, most important of all, any CCC leaders including Nelson Chamisa himself.

(It is utterly pointless asking a Zanu PF supporter or leader because neither of them is serious about getting Zimbabwe out of the mess. They are the ones who have imposed and retained the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship and are benefiting from it.)

1)    Were the 2018 elections free, fair and credible?

2)    Why did the nation participate in the 2018 elections if people knew the process was not going to be free, fair and credible?

3)    What has been done to stop 2023 being rigged too?

Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. After 42 years of rigged elections we, in Zimbabwe, must not go into the 2023 elections expecting the process to be free, fair and credible when we have done nothing to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections for the umpteenth time!

One sure way to cure ourselves of the insanity of participating in these flawed elections, we pretend they are free and fair only to complain they were rigged when the results are out, is to bite the bullet and answer these questions truthfully. The consequences of yet another rigged election is five more years of this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship - that reality should help concentrate the minds!

1)    Were the 2018 elections free, fair and credible?

The 2008 elections were the watershed elections in that Zanu PF blatantly cheated in whittling down Tsvangirai's 73% in the March vote to 47% to force a runoff. In the runoff the party then used wanton violence to punish the electorate for having rejected the party in the March vote. Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw from the runoff leaving Mugabe to win the one-horse race by 84%.

Both SADC and AU, the regional body and the continental body, refused to endorse Zanu PF election victory and thus denying the party political legitimacy. A first, given both bodies had always turned a blind eye to Zanu PF rigged elections in the past.

SADC forced Mugabe and Zanu PF to agree to the implementation of democratic reforms designed to restore the induvial freedoms and rights including the right to free and fair elections; thus, stopping Zanu PF rigging elections. The 2008 to 2013 GNU, comprising Zanu PF and the two MDC factions, was tasked to implement the reforms.

Sadly, not even one meaningful reform was implemented in five years. Not even one. Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of power and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms.

And so, at the end of the GNU Zanu PF retained all its dictatorial powers including the carte blanche powers to cheat and use violence to rig elections. The party rigged the 2013 and all elections thereafter including the 2018 or be it the party has been very careful to conceal evidence of the rigging.

Therefore, the short answer to the question, is no the 2018 elections were not free and fair.

2) Why did the nation participate in the 2018 elections if people knew the process was not going to be free, fair and credible?

There was no denying that Zanu PF rigged the 2013 elections, this was to be expected given no reforms to stop the rigging were implemented during the GNU. It was a certainty Zanu PF was going to rig the 2018 elections too since not even one token reform was implemented after 2013.

The few ordinary CCC supporters who understood the need for reforms would argue they participated in the 2018 elections with no reforms because they believed Chamisa's claim the party "had stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections!" It was all hot air, of course. The overwhelming majority of the members are naïve and gullible; they always follow blindly like sheep to the slaughter.

If the CCC leaders being honest, then they will admit they participated in the 2018 elections knowing fully well Zanu PF was rigging and that by participating they would give the regime legitimacy for the same reasons they did not implement any reforms during the GNU - incompetence and greed.
    
3) What has been done to stop Zanu PF rigging the 2023 elections too?

Nothing!

Chamisa's winning in rigged election strategies such as the mass voter registration are just hot air. By 30 May 2022, CCC registered ¼ million or 4% of its own set target of 6 million!

Zanu PF is rigging these elections and, by participating, CCC will help give Zanu PF legitimacy in return for a few gravy train seats Zanu PF is giving away to entice the opposition's participation.

There is very little anyone can do to stop Zanu PF rigging these elections or stop CCC leaders and their gullible supporters participating in the flawed elections.

The one thing people can do is expose the election process for what it is - a farce and mockery. How can the election be free and fair when there is not even something as basic as a verified voters' roll, for Pete's sake!

Pressure must be brought to bear on SADC; especially those member countries like SA, Zambia and Botswana that have successfully held free and fair elections; not to grant Zanu PF legitimacy after rigging 2023 elections.

Ending the insanity of participating in rigged elections only to perpetuate the Zanu PF dictatorship is the holy grail for all the crusaders fighting in Zimbabwe.