Zimbabwe Information Center in North America
A project of the North American Coalition for a Free Zimbabwe (NACFREEZ)
MDC
By Stanford G. Mukasa
Letter from America
March 31 2008
We are our own liberators
The election results are out. They should have been announced as they were available to avoid any temptation to rig. The only positive outcome was they were posted outside the polling centers. This allowed for public access to them immediately after each constituency votes were tallied.
Probably the big story on the Zimbabwe elections was that, after repeated efforts in past elections, the movement for democratic change succeeded in breaking through the Armada of ZANUPF rigging machinery, defeating Robert Mugabe’s ZANUPF. This time they had the proof to show the world their victory!
According to posted vote tallies around the country, the MDC won by overwhelming margins.
If it were not for the posted information outside each polling center, Zimbabweans would have had to rely on Mugabe’s securocrats for the results.
What makes the MDC victory even more spectacular is the fact that the opposition movement was faced with all kinds of hurdles. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum recorded hundreds of incidences of violence and intimidation against the MDC supporters.
The entire electoral environment was neither free nor fair. MDC had to go through flaming hoops. The party’s only strength was the overwhelming support from the people.
But what really gave MDC the traction power to completely overwhelm ZANUPF?
There were several factors. But the one that stands out prominently was the counting of the votes at their centers and displaying the results. This was part of an agreement that led to the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment #18 which among other things established the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Under the agreement surrounding the establishment of ZEC ballots were to be counted at each polling center and results posted outside the center.
MDC was roundly criticized by civil society for agreeing to the Constitutional Amendment #18.
There was no doubt that MDC had taken a gamble. ZANUPF passed the amendment under the impression it would have a sweeping victory in the next elections.
But MDC’s gamble paid off. Now those poll results posted outside the poll centers are proof positive that MDC won the elections. They can be distributed around the world to lobby international action against Mugabe and ZANUPF.
The elections proved beyond reasonable doubt that, given a chance, Zimbabweans have the capacity, the will and the resolve to get rid of Mugabe through the ballot.
The problem here is Zimbabweans have historically dealt with an accomplished dictator, cheat and thief. Free and fair elections, human rights and democracy are concepts that have no meaning in Mugabe’s mind.
The big question Zimbabweans have yet to ask themselves is: What else can they do if Mugabe fails to respect the people’s rights to change their leaders through an election? This time the Zimbabweans made an all-out effort to remove Mugabe.
They even managed to break through his intricate rigging system. Yet Mugabe still had a trick up his sleeve which he was able to use effectively.
The army is, of course, the final resort for Mugabe. When all else fails Mugabe can always run to the army for protection. In one conversation with his party officials Mugabe was overheard saying “Where would we be today without the army?”
This showed that Mugabe stubbornness, source of strength and dictatorship come from the army. The army has become Mugabe’s protector for whatever he does.
Zimbabweans have been accused of being docile and unable or unwilling to participate in mass demonstrations. While mass demonstrations and protests were being held in other countries, notably, in Kenya, Zimbabweans have always been seen as more interested in scavenging for food and actively involved in all sorts of trading in the black market.
But their determination to vote against Mugabe and the way they lined up tirelessly and patiently outside the voting centers all pointed to strength of character in standing up for their rights.
Zimbabweans showed in a practical way the late Ndabaningi Sithole’s dictum about relying on oneself. Back in sixties Sithole launched this slogan, We are our own liberators which led to the formation of a more militant party ZANUPF.
While there have been international appeals to help Zimbabweans have somewhat come to realize they are their own liberators.
The international community still has a role. Just like in Kenya during the controversial elections last year, the international community has shown in many situations to have the capacity to force changes in a positive way.