Voters Vow To Show Mugabe The Exit

By Vusumuzi Sifile, Kholwani Nyathi, Godfrey Mutimba and Rutendo Mawere

VOTERS across the country have warned President Robert Mugabe: he will be “embarrassed” at the Presidential run-off election on 27 June against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Through massive intimidation and violence in the rural areas, Mugabe’s Zanu PF hopes to reverse a 13%-plus vote deficit to the MDC and independent candidate Simba Makoni and win the run-off.

There are already fears the ongoing violence, especially in rural areas, could discourage some voters from casting their ballots and intimidate others into voting for Mugabe out of fear of reprisals.

Some have become so pessimistic about the run-off they want it called off and replaced with a negotiated settlement, culminating in a government of national unity (GNU).

But in random interviews with The Standard, ordinary people showed their determination to vote again on 27 June and “show Mugabe the exit”.

Martin Ngwenya, a mechanic in Bulawayo, said the run-off must go ahead to demonstrate to Mugabe and Zanu PF that Zimbabweans were capable of choosing their own leaders.

“We are tired of being told that our economic problems are caused by Britain and America, as if they are the ones running our government,” Ngwenya said.

“We want a government that will not take us for granted. This is the statement the majority of Zimbabweans made on 29 March, but it appears Mugabe has not taken heed. So we are going to make it even louder this time around.”

Forgoing the poll, said Noliwe Ncube from Lupane, would set a bad precedent for future governments who might stir unrest to avoid an election where they looked certain to lose.

“The March election was stolen and this time people must vote in their thousands to demonstrate that they can no longer put up with misgovernance and abuse of power.

“We cannot wait to remind Mugabe that he must know when to quit and that it is time he stopped imposing himself on us. We want to show Mugabe the exit on 27 June.”

Tendai Hondo of Jerera growth point in Zaka said he believed the run-off “is the only legitimate way to end tyranny in the country”.

“I think elections should be held, despite rampant political violence in many parts of the country. If elections are called off these people will remain in power and we will continue to suffer,” Hondo said.

He said last week two people from his neighbourhood were shot dead by suspected Zanu PF militia.
Micah Zinduru of Mucheke high-density suburb in Masvingo said he thought Zanu PF and the MDC should call off the election and negotiate a unity settlement.

“In the limited time between now and 27 June, Zanu PF and the MDC, with other stakeholders, should talk and reach an agreement that would pave the way for a transitional government,” said Zinduru, adding that many people could fail to vote because of intimidation.

There are also fears that Zanu PF supporters may not accept an MDC victory, leading to chaos.

“If we go into elections, Zanu PF is not likely to accept an MDC victory,” said Moses Gonese of Gutu.

“Remember there have been sentiments from Zanu PF bigwigs that the country will not be won by a ballot, and Grace Mugabe’s assertions that Mugabe would not leave State House, even if he lost.”

Mellisa Takura, a student at the Midlands State University in Gweru, agreed.

Another Gweru resident Jayson Machaya said “there is no need to hold that election at all in the first place because Zanu PF would not adhere to the results”.

While most urbanites believed the MDC would romp to victory, interviews in rural areas showed most believe “the victimisation” has taken its toll. Dudzai Shoko from Mberengwa North said people had been cowed and were likely to be driven to vote by fear.

“Since April, we have known no peace. We go to meetings every day and witness people being tortured for voting for the MDC.

“Some of us have lost homes and the little property that we had acquired. They have told everyone that if we vote for the MDC again, they would deal with us. Most people would rather vote for Zanu PF than lose everything they have worked for,” Shoko said.

Geshem Pasi from Gokwe South under Chief Njelele said there was a witch-hunt for those who voted for the MDC.

“In Mudzongwe Village where I stay, people are being forced to confess and repent during meetings that they voted for the MDC. They are also made to assure the local leadership that they will not repeat the mistake. Many MDC supporters have surrendered their party T-shirts and are actually being made to offer goats or chickens for their cleansing.”

Emmerson Mandava from Muzarabani said Zimbabwe was “going through an evolution, not a revolution, and the run-off would complete that process”.

Even politicians and activists believed Mugabe would not hand over power even if he lost, as demonstrated by his reaction to the 29 March defeat.

Paul Siwela, the president of the Federal Democratic Union (FDU), said the ailing economy could not adequately fund the election and that the environment was not conducive.

“Mugabe has to hand over power to Tsvangirai because he won this election,” Siwela said. “The run-off is not necessary . . . It can no longer be a true reflection of what people want because many would be scared to vote because of the violence.”

Simba Makoni said “the last thing Zimbabwe needs is another election”. Makoni said the run-off would “further traumatize” voters, and further cripple the economy.

Max Mkandla, leader of the Zimbabwe Liberators’ Peace Initiative, said the run-off would be characterised by voter apathy as thousands of rural voters had been displaced.
Published in The Standard on 8 June 2008

Police Defy Court, Ban Most MDC-T Rallies PDF Print E-mail

By Vusumuzi Sifile, Kholwani Nyathi and Jennifer Dube

THE police last week banned MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai from holding rallies for the Presidential election run-off.

But in the High Court yesterday, Justice Alphas Chitakunye issued a provisional order for the party to go ahead with four rallies in Harare.

"The respondents (police) or anyone acting through them are hereby ordered not to interfere with applicant (MDC)’s rallies as scheduled," Chitakunye ruled.

The MDC vowed to go ahead with all the rallies, citing the High Court ruling.

The police ironically admitted Tsvangirai’s life was under threat, and are now using that as the basis for not granting him permission to hold the rallies.

Over a fortnight ago, Tsvangirai said he had been informed of a plot to assassinate him, but the government angrily dismissed the claims.

In Harare, the MDC had lined up four rallies in Mufakose, Glen Norah, Kambuzuma and Zengeza.

But on Friday, the officer commanding police in Harare South, Chief Superintendent F A Chagwedera wrote to the MDC to inform the party the police were still assessing the assassination threats against Tsvangirai.

Chagwedera said: "The MDC party has communicated far and wide very loudly for that matter, that the lives of some of your politicians are under severe threat from targeted assassinations. We, as the police, are still battling to assess the assassination threat levels, trying to isolate and eliminate such threats."

Chagwedera said the MDC would not be allowed to hold their rallies until after "we have been able to make a full scan and evaluation of the assassination threat levels".

But the MDC, through their lawyers Mbizo, Muchadehama and Makoni, argued that "If the police concerns were genuine, why have they not ensured that the threatened leaders are protected? If they are worried about their safety at rallies, why are they not worried about their safety at their homes?"

In Manicaland the MDC was denied permission to hold 36 rallies.

In Matabeleland North and South, MDC leader was stopped and detained twice by the police from holding rallies last week.

MDC Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya told The Standard on Friday they went ahead and held one rally at Nhedziwa Business Centre in Makoni South, as the police had not notified them the rally had not been sanctioned.

This resulted in the arrest of the convenor of the rally, Shepherd Rambiyarwo and four MDC supporters.

Muchauraya said the arrest of the officials and of newly-elected MP for Buhera West, Advocate Eric Matinenga, would not stop their campaign.

Matinenga was arrested for the second time in a week. The reason for the early morning raid at Matinenga’s home could not be established last night.

In Lupane, Matabeleland North, police last week detained Tsvangirai and impounded his car at a road block en route to a campaign meeting.

The police told state media the detention was only meant to appraise Tsvangirai of the country’s laws.

An advance team sent to prepare for a rally in Manama, in Matabeleland South, was also turned away at a police roadblock after police said they could not guarantee its security in the heavily militarised area.

Tsvangirai was told not to travel beyond Esigodini, about 40km from Bulawayo after he was detained for two hours as police claimed his security was at risk.

His lawyer, Job Sibanda said the police were trying to frustrate Tsvangirai’s campaign.

"They said he must not go beyond Esigodini because his security was at risk," Sibanda said. "The police did not charge him on Friday as they said they had only stopped his motorcade to advise him of their security concerns."

Speaking at a dinner organised by Bulawayo Agenda and Christian Alliance in Bulawayo, Tsvangirai said he was undeterred. He said the ongoing violence and his harassment by the police were only an "occupational hazard".

While the MDC is banned from holding rallies, the lawyers argued, Zanu PF organises its meetings at will.
Published in The Standard on 8 June 2008