adminAcross Africa, it is rare to find stable Governments and examples include the current conflicts in Mali and the Maghreb region while Madagascar and the Horn of Africa stand out as sore thumbs of unending and senseless wars fought by power-hungry warlords and militias. While it might sound like a cliché, there is truth in the assertion that some African countries can hardly hold a credible and acceptable general election whose outcome is not contested.
Zimbabwe has held elections when they are due and without fail since independence and the country’s poll machinery compares favourably with any in the world. Granted, no election can go without murmurs and squabbles because such is the nature of contests where there are winners and losers. However, when all is said and done, the country remains one of the few in Africa where there are checks and balances to ensure a credible outcome to a poll.
Zimbabwe also boasts one of the most disciplined and professional security services in Africa and their reputation remains unblemished 32 years since Uhuru. They have managed to maintain peace and stability in the country while also enhancing their reputation as an efficient force by participating in peace-keeping missions abroad and on the continent.
When the Democratic Republic of Congo was threatened with destabilisation by invading forces backed by Rwanda and Uganda, Zimbabwe, along with its allies Namibia and Angola, intervened to halt the march on Kinshasa and in the process defeated the rebels and put the DRC on the path to democracy, peace and stability. In the 1980s when the country was itself a nascent and newly independent nation battling to find its feet, it successfully assisted Mozambique to contain the threat of Renamo rebels who were then backed by apartheid South Africa.
The security services also refused to buckle under the weight of sanctions when the country’s economy was forced to “scream” by the regime-change merchants of Britain and the United States.
The situation which obtained, particularly in 2008, was a recipe for a revolt and the security sector could have easily been lured to lead it but they maintained their loyalty and protected the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Today our men and women in uniform deserve all the praise they are getting.
At the weekend, President Mugabe said Zimbabweans must complement the security services in maintaining peace and stability before and after the general elections which are due later this year or next year. Speaking at the 2012 President’s Medal Shoot Competition at Cleveland Rifle Range in Harare, the President urged Zimbabweans to be united and shun violence.
“Maintaining peace is not the responsibility of our security services only but is indeed the responsibility of all citizens. We can all positively contribute to peace and stability through our actions or inaction. Since we are preparing ourselves for elections, may I call upon all people to complement the security services in maintaining peace, security and stability. May I repeat my call on everyone to shun violence, all the timer, but especially before, during and after elections,” he said.
We applaud the President’s message and call on all Zimbabweans to heed it mindful of the fact that it is very easy to take the peace we enjoy for granted and forget the damage that can be wrought by violence and conflict. Wars result in untold suffering, destruction of life and infrastructure and should serve as stark reminders for us to cherish the peace and stability we enjoy.
We therefore urge all Zimbabweans, particularly the leaders of the main political parties, to preach the message of peace as we approach elections. We challenge MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube of the other MDC formation to emulate Cde Mugabe by leading calls for peace. We need to hold a credible election that will pass the test of world opinion.
Online Reporter