Political parties should continue calling for peaceful elections

PRESIDENT Mugabe recently proclaimed 31st of July as the date for harmonised elections. The presidential proclamation has sent all political parties into a campaign mode. The election is set to bring to an end the inclusive Government which brought together Zanu-PF, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube in September 2008.

Following the proclamation of the election date, political temperatures have gone up as political parties undertake the prerequisite primary elections.

Primary elections are party-based electoral processes to choose candidates to represent respective parties in a national election.

Zanu-PF is set to conduct its primary elections today, following the release of contesting candidates names by the party’s National Election Directorate (NED). Speaking soon after the release of the names last week, Zanu-PF National Chairman and head of NED, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the verification and selection of candidates had been tedious but “worth it.”

“We are satisfied with the verification of candidates. It was a laborious exercise but worth it,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

He urged the candidates to go out and campaign for support from the electorate but was quick to discourage them from using any money to buy votes. He said corruption and use of money were evils never to be tolerated in the party.

The use of money to secure votes in elections is the worst immoral electoral practice that voters should resist. Yes, money is sweet but blood money stinks. Some political charlatans, opportunists, hangers-on and liars have descended on the political landscape in their rabid modes ready to pounce and hoodwink the gullible among the electorate. They are double-tongued and their deceitful tongues are camouflaged under some silver trinkets that turn constituents and their sacred vote into merchandise for sale. The cash dripping charlatans splash out their silver and subdue any reasonable choice by the electorate.

Any election begins with primary elections and any error in the choice of candidates at that level almost always has a boomerang effect on the erring party during inter-party elections.

There is clearly a high chance that due to vote buying, quite a meaningful number of candidates may find themselves in the august House. The power of silver takes precedence over competence. Competence is sacrificed on the altar of personal expediency. This is a clear case of managing through hook and crook.

It is wrong and immoral for any aspiring politician to use money to confuse the electorate into voting for him or her. It cheapens their vote; it cheapens their right to vote; it cheapens the entire process.

A people’s representative in Parliament must be dedicated to serve. He/she must be loyal, honest and remorseful in all his/her actions. MPs who buy their way into the august House are a liability because they serve no one but their own narrow and selfish interests powered by silver and gold.

They have no roots.

A snap survey in some rural and urban constituencies revealed a sad picture. It seems as if these places never had representatives in Parliament at all. The level of underdevelopment is appalling. In the past five year these self-centred MPs never managed to erect even a single structure for public use. The unemployed youths are yearning for self-help projects. In many cases, MPs for these areas would have secured the seats through chicanery.

Instead of sourcing funds to empower the youths, some MPs have records of failing to satisfactorily account for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) meant to help develop the very constituencies they claim to represent in Parliament. Most rural schools are poorly equipped and some remote communities are in dire need of schools and clinics.

“The people must never be carried away by one’s eloquence. One’s good deeds must be accountable. Bad leaders must never be made leaders,” said Mrs Tsungai Rukweza, a Bulawayo-based civil servant.

She said it was good to note that many political leaders have condemned pre- election violence, vote buying and any forms of corruption.

Mrs Ntando Ngulube, also of Bulawayo, said the people must vote for capable leaders only without considering their political affiliation. She said one’s good work must be considered more than his/her political party affiliation.

“I urge the people to choose leaders on merit not on party lines. Sometimes we shun good leaders because of party politics,” said Mrs Ngulube.
Another city resident, Mrs Sithembeni Gumbo implored parties to continue with their anti-violence calls saying this time around, the country needed a peaceful election.

Basically all political party leaders have urged their supporters to shun violence. The peaceful March 16 referendum demonstrated that Zimbabweans can hold their political processes without any violence.

“We urge the leaders to continue calling for peace during elections. We do not want war, we want peace,” she said.