by Ashley Kondo
MDC Alliance presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa has threatened to shatter prospects of democratic and sovereign elections ahead of the 30 July polls as he enters overdrive panic mode in the run up to elections.
Over the years, the opposition, particularly the MDC-T, has challenged the legitimacy of election results citing violence and intimidation on the electorate.
However, since the ushering in of the new dispensation led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, very few and insignificant cases of violence have been noted with MDCT topping the list according to last month’s report produced by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP).
Notably, Government also put in place measures to ensure the holding of free, fair and credible elections, including extending the invitation to observe elections to all interested foreign missions and groupings.
Already, the country has received some foreign election observer missions including the European Union (EU).
Nonetheless, addressing a press conference in Harare today, Chamisa accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of being partisan before threating to halt the polls slated for this month end.
“We will not go into an election with a ballot paper that is not agreed upon, not to say that we will not participate in an election, but there will be no election,” said Chamisa.
In a self-contradictory statement, Chamisa added that they would seek the intervention of regional and international bodies if ZEC did not bow down to their demands.
“We are going to be tempted to ask SADC and AU to come and take over the process…” he said.
Although the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives the ZEC the sole mandate to administer the country’s electoral processes, the MDC Alliance has relentless to dictate the operational nitty-gritties of the Commission.
Recently, the Commission invited political parties to observe the printing of ballot paper after which the Alliance went on to query the arrangement of candidates’ names on the ballot paper as allegedly favouring the incumbent President.
Many scoffed at the claim describing, the MDC Alliance as perennial cry-babies that are afraid of an imminent defeat.
Speaking to Capitalk Radio, the U.S. Embassy Harare Charge d' Affaires, Jennifer Savage, said Zimbabwe was on the right path and embracing democratic principles.
“I think Zimbabwe is well on the path.... I think the biggest thing is the embrace of democratic principles... We are seeing huge opening up for the democratic dialogue going on here in Zimbabwe,” said Savage.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Public Relations Director, Colonel Overson Mugwisi, has dissuaded the media from peddling falsehoods which are destructive and aimed at causing disunity in the country.
“Our wish is to work with a responsible media that promotes national unity, stability and respect for individual rights as enshrined in our Constitution, social and economic development in the country” he said in a statement.
