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Last year the United States and Britain, through their ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe, made undertakings not to meddle in the internal affairs of the country, particularly the forthcoming elections. But since the confirmation of 31 July 2013 as the date of the harmonised presidential, parliamentary and council elections, the two western powers have reneged on their pledge and predictably so.
When the two countries made their pledges, we had questions about their sincerity but gave them the benefit of doubt on the assumption that they were really committed to reengaging Zimbabwe.
US Ambassador Mr Bruce Wharton has had the temerity in the past few days of writing to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation group chief executive Mr Happison Muchechetere expressing concern over the way the national broadcaster was conducting its business.
This is despite the fact that the US, through the United States Information Agency, is sponsoring pirate radio station Studio 7, which is hosted by the Voice of America, to advance the MDC formations agenda.
Studio 7 churns out anti-Zimbabwe propaganda meant to encourage Zimbabweans to reject Zanu-PF and embrace the MDC formations.
Mr Wharton wrote to Mr Muchechetere on 1 July 2013 expressing concern about what he termed lack of access by some political parties to ZBC.
“In seeking to support peaceful, credible and transparent elections in Zimbabwe, elections that will strengthen the nation at home, in the region and internationally, I believe it is crucial to respect Zimbabwean law, the Global Political Agreement, and Sadc guidelines on elections,” Mr Wharton said.
He also informed Mr Muchechetere and ZBC that he would keep the communication with the public broadcaster confidential by not distributing the letter to the media or sharing it with political parties or civil society organisations.
Mr Wharton is now showing his true colours, that he and his country are hell bent on aiding regime change in Zimbabwe.
If he is so worried about the upholding of the rule of law, holding of credible elections and the fulfillment of the Global Political Agreement, why does he not start by withdrawing US support to Studio 7?
Stopping the broadcasting of hate messages by pirate radio stations is also part of the requirements of the GPA but we are surprised Mr Wharton and his country have made no mention of this ever since the agreement was signed.
It really takes an ambassador of a superpower to communicate directly with a public broadcaster of another country in disregard of laid down protocol.
The Americans would not allow such behaviour in their own country by a diplomat accredited to Washington.
Mr Wharton is reported to have also written to the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Registrar General’s Office again irregularly.
Who does Mr Wharton think he is to so intrusively meddle in our affairs? He should be told in no uncertain terms to stay away from our electoral processes.
As Mr Wharton was busy brazenly writing to our national institutions, British Prime Minister David Cameron was lifting the lid on his country’s plot to influence the outcome of the harmonised elections.
Mr Cameron recently told the British Parliament that his government “has been working out how best to maximise the leverage and influence we have in order to secure a proper election and a proper democratic transition” in Zimbabwe.
We knew the US and Britain would never honour their pledge to keep away from Zimbabwe’s affairs because their primary objective is to ensure Zanu-PF is voted out of power and replaced by the MDC formations.
The behaviour and attitude of Western powers is so sickening. Everywhere they have interests they prod their not so clean hands bidding for their proxies.
The two western countries have been jerked into action by polls predicting victory for Zanu-PF and President Mugabe. Some of the polls have ironically been done by British and American institutions.
Online Reporter