The Defeated Remain Defiant
BEFORE Zimbabwe’s presidential election earlier this month, I believed that if the elections were not handled properly, there would be a serious fallout in the country and throughout southern Africa. Despite the shadows of war and terrorism, I called for a fair and free election. Zimbabwe’s people did not get one. Instead, they got terrorism.
In the two years that led up to the presidential vote the people of Zimbabwe were subjected to severe intimidation, harassment and fear, all of which was carried out as part of a broader programme of state-sponsored terrorism by Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF).
ZANU PF’s terrorism was conducted by rogue elements among the veterans of Zimbabwe’s war of independence two decades ago as well as by government militiamen and youths, all of whom were actively aided by the police.
This intimidation and violence meant that my party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), could not reach the electorate in large parts of the countryside. In addition, the government of President Mugabe effectively disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of urban voters, particularly in the capital Harare and in the city of Chitungwiza. Because of an inadequate number of polling stations, I believe that in Harare and Chitungwiza alone more than 360 000 people stood in a queue to vote but never got the opportunity to cast their ballot.
My concerns about the legitimacy of the election results are further raised by interference by Mugabe’s militia, whose members prevented the MDC from posting polling agents in 52 percent of rural polling stations. By the end of the voting, the MDC had no observers at six out of 10 rural stations. This effectively meant that Mugabe’s supporters could have their way at these stations. We are compiling a comprehensive list of the polling stations where ZANU PF supporters had solitary control.
In our investigations so far, a pattern has emerged even at this early stage — these polling stations recorded the highest number of voters for Mugabe.In light of all the evidence, I cannot accept the presidential election results in which Mugabe, the sitting president, was declared a winner this month with 56 percent of the three million votes tallied. The official results do not reflect the true will of the people of Zimbabwe and are illegitimate in the eyes of the people.
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Zimbabwe’s people have been cheated of their right to freely and democratically elect a president of their choice. The contest over the election results is a political issue that must be resolved politically.Food and fuel are in short supply, jobs are vanishing and inflation is running at more than 100 percent. The people of Zimbabwe deserve a celebration for their courage and determination. We may yet get one.
As I write, I am saddened because Mugabe’s regime remains intent on defying the people’s will. Whatever may happen, I as the people’s loyal servant am with them all the way. The government may want to arrest me. Indeed, I was arrested for treason even before the election. At worst, they may even wish to kill me. But the government will never destroy the spirit of the people to reclaim their rights and power. The power to achieve democratic change is in our hands. We may have moments of fear in the days ahead, but we must never let despair overwhelm us. The tide of political change is irreversible but we must be prepared to pay a high price for our freedom.
Mugabe and his cronies are afraid of the people and we have heard they may do anything to kill the messenger. If they do, I only ask that the people of Zimbabwe remain strong and carry on the work that we began together.Among ordinary Zimbabweans walk heroes — heroes who waited hours and hours to vote, heroes who refused to be turned away. These are the heroes of the new Zimbabwe whose voices must be heard around the world. Together, we travelled a very harsh road to achieve democratic change in my country. Rarely in the history of humankind have a people faced such brutality while retaining such gracious exuberance.
I realise that the people of Zimbabwe are impatient. I understand why. But they must wait peacefully for the political process to unfold. They will not let this election stand but neither will they succumb to Mugabe’s provocative traps and resort to violence.
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The people of Zimbabwe want constitutional change, legal change, legitimate change, and they are going to obtain it in spite of all the obstacles. In this, we know we are not alone. We know that throughout Africa, the will of the electorate has been thwarted. It appears that in the majority of African states, whenever you have elections, you have irregularities, fraud, cheating. There is always a crisis of elections in Africa. There is, sad to say, a lack of sincerity on the part of governments across this continent when the time comes to give people the right to choose.
But those who wish otherwise can take hope. Zimbabwe’s struggle is not over. We have time to tally the lessons of our experience for Africa, and the world. My people are in their hour of greatest need. I pledge not to abandon them.
Credit to Project Syndicate, March 2002
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