The Junta may well have gotten away with calling last November’s military coup a “military assisted transition” but it is not getting away with calling a blatantly rigged election “free, fair and credible!” writes Patrick Guramatunhu.

He believes that what transpired before, during and after the July 30 elections was a far cry from Mnangagwa’s promise of a free, fair and credible election.

Writes Guramatunhu in his opinion piece titled “PM T May praised ED “inquiry into August violence” and avoided rigged elections – extra hot chilli dish.”

No fewer than 50 nations or institution were in Zimbabwe to observe the country’s recent elections. President Mnangagwa promised to hold free, fair and credible elections, a far cry from what happened.

Many nations have not yet produced their official reports on the elections; their silence has said volumes, it is now nearly a month since voting day. One notable exception was China who gave their thumbs up but then what do they know about free, fair and credible elections!

The British Prime Minister, Mrs Theresa May, who is visiting SA, chose to speak about President Mnangagwa’s promise to investigate the wanton violence following the street protests in Harare on 1st August.

When she was pressed on the recent elections, she again pointedly avoided answering the question.

“The President is an elected President, and he is making an important step in saying he is setting up a commission of inquiry into what has happened in relation to the violence,” said British Prime Minister, Mrs Theresa May. She was speaking on SA’s eNCA television.

“I think that is a very important signal from him about the Zimbabwe he wants to see for the future, and the Zimbabwe that is taking opportunities for the future of its people.”

It is the reaction of the Zanu PF apologists that has been telling.

“Our elections were free, fair and credible, which no one in his/her rightful mind can criticise and the legitimacy of the election of President Mnangagwa can, therefore, not be questioned,” said political analyst Mr Gabriel Chaibva, in a Chronicle report.

The guilty need no accuser! Chaibva is fuming and frothing at the mouth defending an indefensible position!

Like everyone else, PM May would have been astonished to hear that ZEC failed to produce a clean and verified voters’ roll, for example; a must have in any election and a legal requirement in Zimbabwe. She then heard of 16 polling stations in which two or more neighbouring stations had exactly the same number of ballots cast and President Mnangagwa had received exactly the same votes.

One does not need a degree in mathematics or anything to know these were bussed voters casting multiple votes. The reason why ZEC had refused to release a verified voters’ roll is immediately obvious, it would have been the smoking gun to the blatant vote rigging taking place!

Even if nations like Britain never come out and openly condemn the flawed and illegal elections in Zimbabwe, choosing to dwell on the side issues such as the 1st August violence; their silence has said it all.

The foreign investors and lenders KNOW the elections were rigged.

Zimbabwe needs the investors to kick start her comatose economy. President Mnangagwa has underlined this with his all out “Zimbabwe is open for business!” carrion call. Sadly, the much hoped for flood of investors will never happen because investors do not do business in pariah state ruled by vote rigging thugs!

The investors will never be fooled into believing Zimbabwe is a democracy when they can see with their own eyes the blatant vote rigging and thuggery!

The Zanu PF junta may well have gotten away with calling last November’s military coup a “military assisted transition” but it is not getting away with calling a blatantly rigged election “free, fair and credible!”

You can fool the blind on fufu (cassava or yam) but not on extra hot chilli in the relish.