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Tongai Dana Correspondent
On August 26, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that President Mnangagwa had been re-elected as Zimbabwe’s President.
ZANU PF’s candidate, President Mnangagwa won the August 23 presidential elections with 2 350 711 votes, which equates to 52,6 percent of the total votes cast, while the CCC’s Nelson Chamisa garnered 1 967 343 votes, translating to 44 percent of the total votes casted.
Other presidential candidates shared the remaining 1.4 percent of the total votes.
Congratulations to the President Elect, “Makorokoto Amhlope makasarudzwa”
The re-election of ZANU PF’s leader President Mnangagwa to the office of President in Zimbabwe is a testimony that while there are some who may not believe in him (those who did not vote for him but exercised their right to choose candidates of their choice, a sign of our matured democracy) there are many who have trust and confidence in him and they happen to be in the majority.
What this means for Zimbabwe is that President Mnangagwa has received another mandate from the majority of Zimbabweans to continue with the many transformative developmental projects and investments that his Government initiated in the past five years.
We will also see new projects and investments being introduced in line with the Vision 2030 as the country heads towards becoming an upper middle income economy.
May God shower the President-elect with strength and wisdom in carrying out this renewed mandate.
President Mnangagwa in his speech on August 27, demonstrated his heart for inclusivity, diversity and tolerance which are all key tenets of inclusive politics and development which all Zimbabweans want.
The President is willing and ready to work with every Zimbabwean to develop the nation regardless of political affiliation.
Other political parties should also be willing to unite with the President and the ruling ZANU PF and work towards one common goal, the Zimbabwe we all want.
From his August 27 address at the press conference, it is clear that President Mnangagwa remains committed to the cause of developing this country towards attainment of the Vision 2030, contributing towards the global Agenda 2030 and the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.
In that regard for progression purposes, all participants in this 2023 Zimbabwean harmonised elections should put Zimbabwe first and remain committed to the cause of making the country better for everyone, including those who have a different perspective to ours.
This starts with ensuring that there is peace and stability in the country.
As wisdom is the beginning of knowledge, so is peace the genesis of development for Zimbabwe. Concerning the issue of peace and stability, it is clear that Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and continues to top them all. However, as is always the case when there have been political contestation tempers may rise.
This may be the case now but as Zimbabweans we will address this as we have always done before.
Above all, there is always room to improve next time on whatever issues that may be there with regards with our harmonised elections.
As Zimbabwe we have nothing to hide and this is the reason why we invited observers.
This is the whole purpose of monitoring and evaluation, to learn from our practice so we improve where we may have not done well next time.
Lesson learning in monitoring and evaluation is not just about the negativities, but also noting the good practices that characterise processes so as to maintain good practices.
Other countries can learn from Zimbabwe’s good electoral practices too.
Zimbabwe’s 2023 harmonised elections has a lot to applause and of chief importance is the peace and calmness that characterised the election.
All election observer missions professed that the Zimbabwean August 2023 electoral process both pre voting and during voting were peaceful.
All Zimbabweans across political affiliations, age groups and gender headed the call by President Mnangagwa to observe peace throughout the electoral period.
Irrespective of the delays in the arrival of election stationary in some polling stations, Zimbabweans who belong to all political parties and election candidates remained patient, peaceful and calm until they voted peacefully
Some would have taken advantage of this delay as a direct provocation and express their disgruntlement violently but alas, Zimbabweans chose peace.
I implore Zimbabwe that the same way that we chose peace in much as we had challenges pre-and during voting let us choose peace in the post-election period. To those who are Christians there is a biblical scripture which makes a call to talking or reasoning issues out.
“Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Traditionally, in our villages and communities, if we have an issue, we hold meetings and peacefully resolve the issues.
To those who follow the teachings of Islam, the Quran instructs us that in the face of provocation, we must refrain from reacting and instead defuse the situation, to cut the very roots of conflict. The Quran way is that instead of reacting to the provocation by fighting we choose peace. This is who we are as a country. Let us all remain peaceful.
Unity among Zimbabweans is also important as the nation begins the journey of another five-year term under the; leadership of President Mnangagwa.
With peace and unity, there is development. With unity and peace, the attainment of Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle-income state is a certain especially considering what has been achieved so far across sectors since 2018.
As a work horse I know soon after inauguration President Mnangagwa will hit the ground running and soon, there will be a lot to show.
With the record of what Zimbabwe has managed to achieve under the leadership of President Mnangagwa in the past five years, it is certain that the future of the country is bright.
All Zimbabweans should join hands and work towards a common cause of uplifting livelihoods and this requires unity, peace and harmony.
Online Reporter