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Lloyd Gumbo Herald Reporter
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Dr Simba Makoni yesterday came under fire for calling for fresh elections despite the fact that he did not enter the presidential race. Dr Makoni contested the Makoni Central National Assembly seat but lost to Zanu-PF candidate Cde Partick Chinamasa who garnered 7 654 against the former’s 3 411 votes.
Dr Makoni rallied behind MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in the harmonised elections.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Dr Makoni claimed there were massive irregularities that marred the electoral process.
“We reject the results announced by ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) as not free, not fair, not credible and not legitimate. These results do not reflect the expression of the free will of the people of Zimbabwe,” Dr Makoni said.
“In searching for ways out of the crisis that has been exacerbated by the illegitimate elections of July 31, 2013 we are working together with leaders of other national organisations to ensure that all ballot boxes and polling stations reports are secured intact and not violated, to secure the final voters roll especially the electronic version of it, to facilitate the conduct of an independent forensic audit of the electoral process and its outcomes especially the voters’ roll and the elections material generated on July 31, 2013.”
Political analysts yesterday castigated Dr Makoni for trying to punch above his weight.
“The utterance by Simba Makoni are only useful in so far as they prove that we are a free country and that he enjoys the freedom and democracy brought to Zimbabwe by Zanu-PF,” said political analyst and Zanu-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo.
“It is unfortunate that he exercises these rights in an irresponsible manner which is inconsistent with the reputation he had as a potential leader when he was in Zanu-PF. Since leaving Zanu-PF and after running for and losing the Makoni Central constituency when he had misled his handlers that he was Presidential material, he appears to have absolutely lost his mind and I can assure you that nobody is taking seriously his utterances. Not even members of his own family.
“Otherwise, everybody else knows the next harmonised fresh elections are due in 2018 and between now and then Zanu-PF is going to exercise its constitutional mandate under the leadership of President Mugabe. This has been recognised by all right thinking Zimbabweans and the international community waiting for the President’s inauguration.”
University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke said it was important for Dr Makoni to know that the election issue for 2013 was a closed chapter.
“This election has just ended. It was proved that he does not have a lot of supporters. He only has a small number of supporters and therefore he is not worth to talk about a repeat of the July 31 election. It is not necessary at all.
“The victory for Zanu-PF was very clear and the election was declared free and fair by Sadc and AU and legitimately by the people of Zimbabwe most importantly because those are the people who voted. To call for another election is completely out of order.
“I think it is important for the opposition parties in Zimbabwe to accept the election result and move on. It is known that in an election you cannot have everyone winning. Some has to win and the loser has to accept that they lost. Simba Makoni it is important that he accepts defeat and humbly start to re-strategise about his political party,” said Dr Makoni.
Midlands State University lecturer, Mr Christopher Gwatidzo added: “Makoni is overrated for nothing. The good thing is that 2013 elections have placed him where he belongs. That he is not Presidential material, neither is he Parliamentary material even with the hybrid support of MKD/MDC-T.
“Let him zip his mouth and stop his attention seeking behaviour. We now know him better. Thanks to those who voted.”
Dr Makoni, however, acknowledged that the elections were peaceful.
“On July 31, 2013, the people of Zimbabwe voted in a peaceful and orderly manner following a month of energetic election campaigning by leaders and candidates of various political parties,” said Dr Makoni.
“On behalf of Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn party, I congratulate the people of Zimbabwe for conducting themselves in a peaceful, orderly, disciplined and dignified manner.
“I also commend the leaders of the other political parties especially Messrs Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai for the consistent calls for violence-free elections.”
MDC-T, MKD and Western countries are the only ones who claimed the elections were not free and fair while all regional, continental and international observer missions gave the polls a clean bill of health.
President Mugabe resoundingly won the harmonised elections last week after thrashing Mr Tsvangirai thoroughly, collecting 61 percent of the total votes cast to Mr Tsvangirai’s 33, 9 percent. The other three contestants shared the remaining 4,97 percent. Zanu-PF scooped a two-thirds majority after sweeping 160 seats in the 210 National Assembly constituencies.
The party’’s parliamentary representation rose to 197 with the addition of seats it won through proportional representation and the women’’s quota.
Several Heads of State from across the world have congratulated Zimbabweans and President Mugabe for conducting a peaceful, free and fair election.
ZEC has already dismissed claims of vote-rigging, saying the electoral process was water-tight.
Several pro-MDC-T organisations have urged MDC-T to concede defeat.
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