Farai Dziva|Political Activist Pafungeyi Gore has said the opposition must come up with strategies to stop the manipulation of rural voters.

See Gore’s argument:
The walls of Jericho are falling …

Babylon is not at all burning but there is indeed dust sweeping across the city because of wind.

To starters, they want to portray Zimbabwe as a mature democracy.

Zimbabwe is an autocratic country where the ruling party is not separable from state institutions.

There is indeed a symbiotic relationship between ZANU PF and the State. The state represented by both the repressive and ideological state apparatus.

The alternative government represented by the MDC is not at all losing the so-called by-elections.

A by-election will be held in Mashonaland East where the trend of losing will continue.

Counter accusations will be thrown at each other as if the MDC provinces control securocrats running the elections.

Firstly, the MDC is facing difficulties winning rural by-elections. Apart from outright rigging there is no motive for voters to vote in large numbers in a by-election especially for the opposition because there are no chances to take power through by-elections.

So voters take lightly the significance of by-elections other than maintaining the status quo.

People living outside wards and conatituencies but voters in those areas would find it not so vital to travel and vote in a by-election because of not so powerful compelling reasons.

The MDC should never be swayed by these cooked results. The whole state machinery will be focusing on one by-election.

Without comprehensive reforms, the MDC will fight internally whilst the problem at the centre is the need for an even ground.

State security especially the CIO have been at the centre of intimidation in most rural constituencies and wards where by-elections are held or were held.

The rural voters know very well these unmarked vehicles and the victimisation they witnessed in the past from people who should rather protect all despite political affiliation.

People are threatened of reprisals and the MDC would find it difficult to counter this because of lack of state power. Even if they try to match ZANU PF resource wise those who would have been seen receiving goods from the MDC will be threatened with reprisals.

ZANU PF wants to create a narrative that they are winning despite the hanging legitimacy issue.

As long as DDF is abused for political expediency, an uneven ground will create difficulties for the MDC.

As long as the traditional leaders are dabbling in politics it will be difficulty for the MDC to gain political traction in rural areas.

Most people in rural areas are not all out activists they will not sacrifice their life especially for the sake of politics.

And ZANU PF is abusing the character of rural voters by keeping on reminding them of the aftermath, especially without a healing plan dating back from the Gukurahundi atrocities, early 2000 killings, the blood March 2008-December 2008 killings of opponents.

MDC provinces are doing their best to win power in rural areas. The MDC as a whole should continue fighting for reforms.

There no way through Democratic means that the party will win power if their are no reforms.

Reforms should cut across the whole spectrum of institutions key in elections.

Elections are not being won through democratic strategies but thuggery and the MDC without security sector support can match ZANU PF thuggery behaviour.

Security sector reforms key to end disputed elections in Zimbabwe. The CIO should never be abused to advance or extend ZANU PF hegemony on power.

The intimidation of traditional leaders is also key to a free and fair election. Even during the White settler minority rule traditional leaders were abused and they are still being abused which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Media coverage is key to a free and fair election.

The reason why EU and America are keeping sanctions in place is because there is no improvement in human rights issues in the country.

So those bent on creating a narrative that MDC provinces are in chaos whilst we have a raft of issues that need to be addressed before criticising the MDC are playing into a ZANU PF trap of propaganda detached from reality.

Reality will never change and reality points to the need for reforms.

Pafungeyi Gore is social scientist and political activist he writes in his own personal capacity.