Dear Editor

I read your article:-

“The Chamisa-led MDC had sought to impugn the conduct of President Mnangagwa for alleged interference with the independence of traditional leaders ahead of harmonised election on July 30.”

and merely an observation…

I don’t know if you are familiar with the term Political Gatekeeping but I gather it is generally considered impossible to hold free and fair elections with Gatekeeping.

I think there would be more value in reaching out to pressure groups such as election observers and the free press with the statement:-

“In our opinion it is not possible to conduct free and fair elections in areas under control of traditional leaders who are Political Gatekeepers under the direction of the President and his inner circle. Gatekeepers are individuals or institutions who control access to positions of power, reward/punish in access to resources and regulate the flow of information. Gatekeepers of highest authority that are obsequious (obedient or attentive to the chief executive to an excessive or servile degree) may fill the role of informer (labelling an individual as a “sell out”) and betrayer so everyone has been captured in the system of “absolute control” normally associated with dystopias. We urge pressure groups, such as observers, to encourage the dismantling of these structures to ensure the credibility of the elections.”

I gather Political Gatekeeping is also practiced to an even greater degree on remaining white owned farms.

– TC