Any prospects of economic recovery for Zimbabwe are significant in signifying a genuine, credible, transparent, verifiable and traceable electoral process that produces an uncontested election result. Any effective engagement with international community and investors is characterised by a stable political environment that promotes and invests in rule of law.
The guarantee and security of any investment in Zimbabwe can only be insured and protected by a democratic notion of popular consent which is conferred through free, fair and credible elections.
Electoral reforms can only be established by demonstrating what constitutes these reforms. There is lot of questions from the generality of citizens, international community, investors and other organisations with regards to the content of these political reforms that have always impeded on our political stability and economic revival. The calls for these reforms have left many people confused and failing to understand whether they are meant for regime change or improving credibility and transparency in our electoral processes.
The notion for political reforms is raised on the basis and belief that we have deficiencies and inadequacies in our political and electoral processes causing a contested result. This is a result of lack of credibility due to our referees and officials running the process being captured and compromised. That impedes and impacts on the election closure which is meant to pave way for elected legislators to focus on substantive policy issues that impact development and smooth flow of government’s economic programs. Due to an unfair and incredible election process, the losing candidate will refuse to concede defeat which is meant to confirm the legitimacy of the winner. This lack of losers consent undermines the idea of popular consent which is central to the legitimacy question.
Zimbabwe’s electoral processes are materially deficient, unfair and inclusive of the personnel running the process who are either captured or corrupted. Years between to the next election are spent on these contestations having the team running the election battling to assert and prove the legitimacy of the winner.Arguments that emanate from lack of traceability and verification of the election result always stifle development and very little attention will be paid to policy issues that affects reforms and development. Zimbabwe needs a fair, free and credible electoral process that creates an election result that can simply be accepted as a free and fair and be regarded as a reflection of the public opinion.
We need to start to establish a history of exchanging power peacefully between main parties. ZANU has never experienced life in opposition because of its fear that if it loses power, there is no incentive and it might be subjected to investigative processes regarding their abuse of power and corrupt practices during its term.
Reform proposals must guarantee a fair treatment of members of previous regime and a fair playing field that ensures trust and confidence in the process. The process must guarantee confidence and trust in the losing candidate that he has an opportunity to win next election. Political reforms must constitute measures to address institutional bias and lack of professional ethics in the Judiciary, the police, the Army etc.
All these reforms that we have always demanded since year 2000 are central to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and investment agenda.
We need collective initiative as Zimbabweans to push ZANU to come to terms with the reality of realising the pain and suffering of Zimbabweans due to its conduct. A collective position on how to ensure ZANU complies with the reforms and its commitment to honour any agreement will be vital in defining our way forward as Zimbabweans.
Genuine, sincere and objective, inclusive discussion on these reforms is a prerequisite in ensuring ZANU understands the seriousness and urgency in focusing on these reforms.Blessing Simpson Madzima
