The ManicaPost
Ranga Mataire
Group Political Editor
If there were any doubts about Zimbabwe’s capacity to conduct peaceful and transparent elections, then Wednesday’s voting put those doubts to rest as the process was characterized by tranquillity.
Although there were some initial technical glitches at some polling stations, things eased out smoothly with many voters expressing satisfaction with the conduct of presiding officers manning polling stations throughout the country.
Constant appraisals were given to voters by presiding officers at polling stations where ballot papers delivery were delayed.
Zanu PF aspiring candidate for Chimanimani East Constituency, Cde Joshua Sacco cast his cote at Machongwe Business Centre. Picture: Tinai Nyadzayo
Expectedly, there were some anxieties over the delay that were allayed by the eventual delivery of all material needed for voting.
Zimbabweans should surely be proud of themselves for nurturing a maturing democratic culture, which was testified by multiple observer teams in the country to monitor the elections.
As a member of SADC, Zimbabwe showed that it is able to hold elections in accordance with the regional principles and guidelines of holding democratic elections.
The guidelines are not only informed by the SADC legal and policy instruments but also by the major principles and guidelines emanating from the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa and the AU Guidelines for African Union Electoral Observation and Monitoring Missions.
Chipinge South Zanu PF aspiring candidate, Cde Enock Porusingazi cast his vote on Wednesday. Picture: Ray Bande
Some of the principles that Zimbabwe has to adhere to include full participation of the citizens in the political process, freedom of association, political tolerance, equal opportunity for all political parties to access the media, equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for including ensuring the independence of the judiciary and impartiality of electoral institutions.
Other principles include acceptance and respect of the election results by political parties proclaimed to have been free and fair by national electoral authorities in accordance with the law of the land.
In all fairness, Zimbabwe has been able to adhere and respect the SADC principles and guidelines as evidenced by the absence of major complains coming from election observers of political participants.
As said by President Mnangagwa, the nurturing and adherence to democratic principles is not a product of coercion, but a conscious act of Zimbabweans.
He is on record saying that no foreigners can teach Zimbabwe democracy as the country is a product of an armed liberation struggle whose basis was to establish a democratic society based on the principle of one man, one vote.
And in a post on microblogging X, formerly Twitter, the President said: “Today (Wednesday) was a very important day for our great nation. Let us remember the importance of unity and peace. The power to shape our future lies in our hands. Let’s uphold the values of democracy and celebrate togetherness.”
Zimbabweans took heed of the President’s call for citizens to participate in enhancing the democratic values in peace.
Although leader of the opposition CCC, Mr Nelson Chamisa raised concern over some delays in delivering ballot boxes at some polling stations saying, “We are disappointed because the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) have disappointed the citizens,” it’s clear his gripe is about technical glitches and not any major malaises.
This unidentified man cast his vote at Denzva Primary School in Makoni South on Wednesday. Picture: Samuel Kadungure
This is an election in which all political parties freely participated after holding political rallies in all the country’s provinces without any hindrance.
It surely was up to the electorate to choose representatives that will carry their aspirations for the next five years.
Twelve presidential candidates were on the ballot, but the main contest was expected to be between President Emmerson Mnangagwa nicknamed the “crocodile” and the CCC leader Mr Chamisa who lost in the 2018 election.
The odds are against the opposition leader who went into the election with a divided opposition that failed to hold transparent primary elections to elect its parliamentary and local authority representatives.
While the ruling Zanu PF campaign was marshalled with President Mnangagwa and his party’s Presidency, it was a one-man show from the CCC party, which only had Mr Chamisa as the front man.
Mr Chamisa’s last rally in the party’s stronghold in Harare exposed serious fissures which were reflected by his supporters’ disapproval of some candidates, including his running for the Presidential position.
Some supporters were heard chanting “Biti, Biti, Biti” in reference to Mr Tendai Biti, who supporters felt was hard-done by Mr Chamisa who preferred Mr Rusty Markham.
This is the first election in the history of elections in Zimbabwe where a political leader went into an election claiming to not have a political party but a movement.
Prospective voters check their names on the voters roll at Lawrencedale Primary School in Headlands. — Picture: Samuel Kadungure
It remains to be seen whether Mr Chamisa’s “strategic ambiguity” approach will yield any positive results.
The governing party is banking on deliverables marshalled by their leader, President Mnangagwa, who initiated massive infrastructural projects and ensured that Zimbabwe became food secure.
President Mnangagwa has been able to initiate and complete several developmental projects that have become the envy of the region.
Some of these deliverables include the completion of the Robert Mugabe International Airport, the Mt Hampden state-of-the-art Parliament, the Harare-Chirundu highway, which is almost complete, and the construction of some dams.
His other signature projects include the US$1.5 billion Hwange Power Station Unit 7 and 8 expansions, which ensured constant supply of power and the Mutare Medical Oxygen plant- both of which have the impact of reducing the country’s national import bill.
All in all, the 2023 harmonised elections will go down in history as having a record number of observer teams from around the globe, thereby making it one of the most open and most watched polls in recent times.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson, Mr Livit Mugejo said a total of 46 countries, 17 organisations and two prominent individuals were invited to observe the 2023 harmonised elections.
Mr Mugejo said all the 15 Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries as well as representatives from the EU and the United States were invited to observe the elections.
