The country votes for everything at the same time, but Mugabe remains firmly in charge.
Mario Canseco – Robert Mugabe will seek a new term in office this Saturday, in the "harmonized" election that will see voters choose a president, select a new House of Assembly, renew a Senate that has been in place for just 26 months, and pick the members of their local councils.
Mario Canseco – Robert Mugabe will seek a new term in office this Saturday, in the "harmonized" election that will see voters choose a president, select a new House of Assembly, renew a Senate that has been in place for just 26 months, and pick the members of their local councils.
For the first time in his almost three decades in power, Mugabe—anointed once again by the powerful Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) as its presidential candidate—will face two popular rivals in the election: Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and former ZANU-PF member and former finance minister Simba Makoni, who is supported by a breakaway faction of the MDC.
The presence of three well-known candidates gave way to speculation that a run-off might be required, and that the opposition contenders would ultimately join forces to topple Mugabe. These guidelines would be valid in countries with sound democratic structures. Zimbabwe, as has been demonstrated in every single election it has held this century, is not on that list.
Mugabe, as usual, has run a campaign tinted with nationalistic undertones, suggesting that he is the only person who can lead the country in the face of Western interference. The incumbent president has the support of the country’s most commanding party structure, and a tight grip on the government’s day-to-day operations.
The estimated 4 million Zimbabweans who rely on food aid and those who desperately need machinery to even attempt to produce something have one thing in common: they both must pay their respects to the regime if they want to qualify for assistance. Handouts are provided only to those who are identified as ZANU-PF faithful, and public ceremonies are usually held in the middle of an electoral campaign.
In the latest episode of disregard for democracy, the government announced its intention to have all votes counted in a central location, instead of at each polling station. Tsvangirai immediately criticized the proposal, which was enacted just two weeks before election day. Also, police officers will be allowed to enter polling stations. The government justified the measure as necessary to help disabled voters. Opponents of the regime see one more opportunity—a very direct one—for pro-government intimidation.
Still, the controversies surrounding the electoral roll are the most baffling. The Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) has authorized the printing of 9 million ballot papers, for a list that carries fewer than 6 million names. The allegations of fraud have already begun. The opposition asserts that ballot boxes are already being filled with ZANU-PF votes, only to be switched with the boxes of actual votes on election day.
While the number of polling stations throughout the country has increased from 4,000 in 2005 to 11,000 this year, most of the new booths have been placed in areas where the governing party is popular. Opposition supporters will have no choice but to endure long lines in order to express their dissent.
The list of voters also includes the name of Desmond Lardner-Burke, a former Rhodesian minister who passed away in exile right after Zimbabwe became a country. It would have been easier to believe that a 98-year-old Lardner-Burke would arrive to cast a ballot, if Mugabe’s ill-timed policies had not lowered Zimbabwe’s life expectancy rate to 36 years.
No single outside entity or human rights group has issued a positive assessment of the current electoral campaign in Zimbabwe. As such, many other terms could have been used to describe the events that will unfold on Mar. 29. Dishonest, one-sided, arbitrary and fraudulent come to mind. Harmonized definitely does not.
