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The MDC formations, which were believed to be working with some elements within ZEC, adopted a five-pronged approach in a bid to derail special voting to buttress their position that the country was not ready for elections.
Among the strategies was infiltrating ZEC to countermand the chain of command, sabotaging the printing of ballot papers and starving the commission of timely funding.
Political scientist and Zanu-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo said the MDC formations were behaving like overgrown babies due to fear of elections.
“In their desperate but ill-fated quest to stampede Sadc and the AU to violate its own and the UN charter while abusing the courts and undermining the rule of law in Zimbabwe, the MDC formations are now behaving like overgrown babies whose foreign founders and funders have made them to behave as if everyone owes them everything.
“It is against this backdrop that the MDC formations now routinely vilify the police, the courts and Zec while making infantile and delinquent intervention appeals to Sadc and the AU on a matter which has been decided with finality by the Constitutional Court with respect to the July 31st election date which is now cast in stone.
“The writing on the wall which everyone in and outside the country can read is that the MDC formations have resorted to fight the election rather than to fight in it because their electoral defeat has become as certain as death,” Prof Moyo said.
Midlands State University lecturer Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri said sabotaging a national process was a serious crime and the MDC formations needed to be investigated.
“If they did that then that is sabotage, the worst of its kind to have happened in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“This is treasonous because they are derailing a national process and nothing is expected on this case besides prosecution. If they deliberately did this they should face a severe punishment.”
Political analyst Mr Gabriel Chaibva said that elections would be held on July 31 was irreversible.
He said the MDC formations had for long tried to delay the polls but lost their bids at the courts.
“They (MDC formations) have for a long time been reluctant to have these elections and it was no surprise that they want to use all tactics to disrupt the process,” he said.
“They will not achieve with their strategy simply because the election preparations have reached an irreversible stage.”
Mr Chaibva said whatever logistical problems Zec might experience it was clear that elections would be held as scheduled.
“The problems have perfected with a number of interventions being introduced and we look at commissioners as professionals who should operate according to the statutes of the Constitution.
“These acts are a sign of people fearing elections and the MDC formations are surprised by the level of peace and tranquility prevailing in the country ahead of the elections. Their tactics have never worked and will not work.”
University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke said such dirty tactics were bound to be found in a coalition Government.
“There are some elements who would want the whole process to flop because some want the inclusive Government to be extended,” she said.
“They want to portray Zimbabwe in a negative way for election observers that are in the country to work against Zec. Unfortunately they are shooting themselves in the foot because elections are not about Sadc, African Union or the European Union. They are for the people of Zimbabwe, including them.”
Added Dr Manyeruke: “We encourage Zec commissioners to work together to ensure a successful poll.
“Zec should also have a monitoring mechanism within their system. We have professionals including lawyers in the electoral body and we expect a super job from such a team.”
Online Reporter