adminThe MDC-T which has previously expressed reservations about the decision to hold elections next year has now come out in the open and admitted that elections are inevitable next year. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is the MDC-T leader, and Finance Minister Tendai Biti (MDC-T secretary general), on Monday agreed to the holding of elections next year.
The pronouncement by the MDC-T now compels Minister Biti to budget money to fund the elections, which should bring an end to the dysfunctional inclusive Government. Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Minister Biti were addressing stakeholders during a Government Work Programme budget consultative meeting in Harare. Minister Biti said he would have to provide funds for the harmonised elections and referendum in the 2013 national budget.
The MDC-T has in the past resisted the idea of holding elections, arguing that there were outstanding reforms that needed attention.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces President Mugabe has said the elections should be held by March next year while the Parliamentary Constitutional Select Committee (Copac) says the referendum on the new constitution should be held between now and January next year.
These indications should act as a catalyst for the Finance Minister to step up preparations in terms of funding. In any case everybody in the inclusive Government including Minister Biti who oversees the country’s finances knew all along that at some point elections would have to be held. Minister Biti should have been gradually preparing for the two processes (the elections and the referendum). He does not have any excuse at all not to be able to raise the money required for these two crucial national events.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission deputy chairperson Mrs Joyce Kazembe says $104 million is needed to run the referendum on the new constitution while $115 million is require to fund the harmonised elections.
These figures have been bandied around since last year and the fiscal authorities should have made provisions to lessen the pressure on themselves when the elections draw near.
We strongly oppose Minister Biti’s proposal to borrow money from Western countries and other world bodies to finance the constitutional referendum and the harmonised polls.
That route is a non-starter Mr Finance Minister. How can we borrow money from countries that support the MDC-T and loathe Zanu-PF? We will be exposing ourselves to sheer manipulation by whoever lends us their money to hold the elections. You can rest assured that the elections and the referendum will not be fair because those who would have poured their money start dictating how we use the money and possibly the outcome of the elections.
Such a scenario will leave us with an election outcome that is not free and fair. We are not coming out of a war or some kind of a financial mess, which makes it possible for us to fund our own processes. It is very important that the results of the forthcoming referendum and elections is beyond reproach because this country needs to move forward. Zimbabwe must now rid itself of this monster called the inclusive Government.
Although the arrangement has brought some relief on the economic and social fronts, it is not the best way to run a country. Zimbabwe could have been in a much better position than it is now had the country been under the rule of one political party. That party would have been able to implement its policies and programmes without hindrance.
Our advice to Minister Biti and all those in Government charged with preparing for the elections is that please put your house in order and gear up for the elections because there is no doubt the polls are upon us.
March next year is just five months away and Zimbabwean voters eagerly await to bury the inclusive Government so that the country has a clear direction of where it is going.
Online Reporter