Chronicle Editor
Wallace Musakanyi
The world witnessed Zimbabwe’s unfolding democracy in action following the conclusion of the August 23 plebiscite which was held under peaceful, democratic and transparent conditions in harmony with the National Constitution, Electoral Act as well as other Regional and International Conventions governing the conduct of democratic elections.
August 23 provided Zimbabwe with a golden opportunity to add significant value to its democratic trajectory. On the other hand, Government under the leadership of President Mnangagwa executed this national task diligently as the polls satisfied all the liberal benchmarks that are critical in ensuring the credibility and authenticity of the entire electoral process.
The campaign trail was action packed and loaded, observer missions from across the Global North and South (EU, Commonwealth, AU and SADC), landed and covered a lot of ground work amongst them to mention just a few and they experienced the republic’s flowering democracy coupled with political parties and politicians who professed tolerance, maturity and peace throughout the election spell.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was ready and well geared for this special assignment, they activated a plethora of Constitutional processes that were crucial in harnessing the nation’s electoral democracy.
Its voter registration exercise was intensive and impactful, it covered all the areas from the core to the peripheries together with the voter education and awareness campaigns, the delimitation of constituencies and wards was also conducted in compliance with the national laws as well as the administration of the entire electoral process.
On an interesting note, August has emerged as a momentous and significant month in the electoral politics of Zimbabwe since the inception of the New Dispensation. To Zanu-PF, the day projects a mixed bag of “trial and triumph” and its footprints will forever live in the hearts and minds of political institutions and players, civil society organisations as well as law and politics scholars.
President Mnangagwa emerged victorious after he garnered 52,6 percent of the total votes casted, which guaranteed his re-election as the Head of State and Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Anyone could easily and correctly predict President Mnangagwa’s thunderous victory emanating from a number of interventions and mechanisms he initiated from the moment he assumed office in 2018 which served best in the interest of the nation making him a pragmatic, able and visionary leader who can meaningfully steer the country’s fortunes in a positive direction.
Mega infrastructural projects, overwhelming road construction and rehabilitation programs, robust mining and agricultural models, modern housing schemes, tremendous economic stabilisation measures were implemented and cherished by the general populace across both the urban and rural divide powered by President Mnangagwa and these campaigned on behalf of Zanu-PF across all the 210 Constituencies.
These developmental initiatives that were courtesy of Zanu-PF provided hope to the electorate and basing on the rate at which development was rolled out during the first phase of the Second Republic, it is not a surprise that by 2028, Zimbabwe will emerge as an African Dubai accompanied by modernised infrastructure as well as a strong and durable economy.
Zanu-PF rallies and other political mobilisation programs were just a bonus and a necessary political ritual expected of any political party in the election season otherwise the election results were a public secret because the party’s works served as its manifesto which made its triumph imminent, inevitable and certain.
The ruling party’s victory was not a surprise to like-minded and politically conscious citizens, because its campaign trail was methodical, scientific and evidence-based in tandem with its empowerment-oriented mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
The party’s campaign also correlated with other scientific and rigorous surveys that were conducted by institutions among them the Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) and the Centre for Electoral Democracy Trust (CEDT) which predicted a sweeter victory for President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF.
The first five years of President Mnangagwa’s term set the developmental foundation across all the economic sectors which provides the nation with a formula of achieving economic growth.
Over the next five years, the country must brace for the proper utilisation of the devolution funds which will eventually translate into the construction of more schools, health centres, roads, beautification of the country in line with the New Dispensation’s modernisation agenda, overwhelming growth of the agricultural and mining sectors, to mention just a few under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
His triumph in the recently concluded elections guarantees the nation a strong sense of stability and consistency in policy implementation. It allows the Zanu-PF government to proceed with its development mechanisms which are already taking shape and are necessary in ensuring that Zimbabwe achieves an upper middle income by the year 2030.
λ Wallace Musakanyi can be contacted on [email protected]
Online Reporter