Chigumba Threatens Chamisa With Imprisonment

By Dorrothy Moyo| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba yesterday threatened MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and others with imprisonment.

Chamisa a week ago said he would announce the election results on his own, due to the commission’s failure to meet legal standards.

Speaking in response yesterday, Justice Chigumba was short of mentioning Chamisa’s name when she said that it is an offence to announce election results.

Chigumba said anyone who announces results before ZEC shall be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both fine and imprisonment.

Said Chigumba, “the commission has witnessed incidents where some elements have tried to destabilise the processing of the postal vote on the pretext of demanding transparency.

“In particular, ZEC would like to condemn an incident that occurred at the ZEC district office in Zvishavane where a group of MDC-Alliance members disrupted the issuing of postal vote envelopes to 78 applicants supposed to be deployed for electoral duties. Stakeholders are reminded that it is an offence in terms of Sections 186 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) for a person to wilfully interrupt, obstruct or disturb any proceedings taken in terms of the Act. Any further disruption by any party or stakeholder may force the commission to invoke this provision for those found in breach.”

Meanwhile Justice Chigumba also warned against against interrupting, obstructing or disturbing any electoral proceedings. She spoke concerning an incident that occurred in Zvishavane, where some MDC-Alliance members allegedly disrupted the issuing of postal vote envelopes to 78 applicants supposed to be deployed for electoral duties.

“With No Fiscal Stability Nothing Works,” Says Cross – No, Political Stability Matters The Most

By Patrick Guramatunhu| “My first call on my bucket list for Zimbabwe was fiscal stability and discipline, the second was monetary stability and predictability. This week on Monday the informal rate of exchange for the RTGS dollar was 1.90 to 1. That is an effective devaluation of 12 percent in a week,” wrote former MDC MP, Eddie Cross.

“Two to one looks as if it’s just around the corner. Inflation will follow – that is why these fundamental macro-economic issues are so important to everyone. In fact, I will be blunt – unless you get these right, nothing else works.”

Yes, “fiscal stability and discipline, the second was monetary stability and predictability” are very important but they are not the most important challenge in Zimbabwe. Dismantling the Zanu PF dictatorship to create an open dynamic and democratic system of government is the number one priority.

Mr Cross and his fellow MDC leaders had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms which would have completely dismantled the Zanu PF dictatorship. They five years in the GNU and yet failed to get even one reform implemented.

Yes, MDC’s presence in the GNU did bring some much needed fiscal and monetary stability but with even that was only to a very limited extend because there was very little foreign investment. With no meaningful political reforms on the ground, every could see that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was nothing more than a glorified Office Messenger with a fancy title and so too were the other MDC ministers. Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies had all the political power.

With no reforms in place, Zanu PF went on to rig the 2013 elections and restore its iron grip on power. The very day the elections results were announce the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange index tumble by a warping 35%, everyone was fearful of the economic chaos that was certain to follow.

Whatever economic gains Zimbabwe had made during the GNU they were lost as soon as Zanu PF returned to power.

“Seek ye first the political kingdom and all things shall be added unto you,” said Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first President of post-independent Ghana.

Mr Eddie Cross and his fellow MDC friends failed to understand the essence of Dr Nkrumah’s message. SADC leaders tried their best to remind the MDC leaders of the need to implement the democratic reforms but their advice fell on deaf ears.

“I will be blunt – unless you get these right (fiscal and monetary stability), nothing else works!” Even with the benefit of hindsight, he still does not get it – without political stability nothing else matters! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk

The Ancestors Told Me To Dump Chamisa For Mnangagwa

“I was visited by my ancestors in a dream and they told me to join Zanu-PF.”

Terrence Mawawa| A senior MDC official has dumped the opposition party to join Zanu PF.

Former MDC deputy provincial youth chairperson(Masvingo Province), Tavengegweyi Machingura yesterday publicly denounced the MDC and indicated he had decided to join the ruling party because of its viable policies.

Machingura, a seasoned MDC cadre stunned all and sundry when he dumped the opposition party.

“This is my personal decision and I am happy to join the revolutionary party.

There is no coordination in the MDC so I have decided to distance myself from the chaos,” said Machingura.

He said in full: “I was visited by my ancestors in a dream and they told me to join Zanu-PF. To those who knew me in this area, I was one of the founders of the party and I was walking side by side with Nelson Chamisa. I have come back to Zanu-PF after realising that there is darkness in MDC-Alliance. I have not benefited anything in MDC-Alliance and have decided to be in the light in the Zanu-PF, a party which has a visionary leader in the person of President Mnangagwa.”

BALLOT BOOB: What Chigumba Said About the 14 Column “Fraudulent” Positioning Of Emmerson Mnangagwa

Below was the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba’s response to questions on the Ballot paper alleged “fraudulent” design in a LIVE interview with Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa last night – 

Chigumba: ” What does double page mean I am not quite sure what that means, what are you saying?”

RP: Double columns.

Chigumba: “Right.”

RP: Let’s address this issue, I think you know what the issue is, right? The columns?

Chigumba: “Let me tell you, errrm. What we did, errrm, as a commission we had three different ballot paper designs, we actually have a ballot design partner which sits down and designs the most cost-effective ballot paper, I would be the first to admit that we did not anticipate that we would have 23 presidential candidates in particular. What we did is firstly we are guided by the law that says that in the design and printing of the Ballot paper the names of the candidates must be in alphabetical order, so that one is given. It’s the law, so in coming up without design we then said we will go with 14 name columns. So you will find when you actually go on polling day 14 columns even for the national Assembly and even the one for council. So any Ward or constituency where there is more than 14 candidates, whether it’s presidential whether it’s council, we decided to work with 14 numbered columns.”

 

RP: how do we know how you decided to get to do this because this is what the issue is? Because some are saying you made this decision in order to favour the incumbent.

Chigumba: “Why would we do that? ”

RP: that’s the question everybody asks why would you do that?

 

Chigumba: “We are a commission that took an oath of office to discharge our duties Without Fear or favour or Prejudice. We are also not under the Direction or control of anyone. What the law actually says is that we are accountable to Parliament.

But we are accountable to Parliament at the end of the process. What happens is that at the end of the process we will submit a report to Parliament which says this is the criteria that we used in coming up with the Ballot paper design, and that report is actually tables before Parliament, in parliament can actually summon us and question us, now when we say that we are not under the Direction or control of anyone Ruvheneko, I feel sort of give you an example, we did say that 55 political parties successfully fielded candidates, now if we put all 55 political parties in this room, and we say come up with ballot paper design, what do you think would happen? Errrm, when Parliament gave us the exclusive mandate to procure ballot paper, to design it to print it and to distribute it, Parliament knew exactly what it was doing. Which is where we come back to the point of are we being necessarily narrow in our interpretation of the law? Because Parliament says we alone and only the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has the exclusive mandate to procure the paper design it and print it…”

 

Judge Rubbishes Mugabe’s Own Words, Says Bob Freely Resigned

LUKE MALABA

By Farai D Hove| Chief Justice Luke Malaba has passed a verdict that rubbishes former president Robert Mugabe’s own words that state that he was forced to resign in a coup d’etat.

Mugabe has revealed on video that he was illegally removed last year November.

Four months after the coup, in March this year, Mugabe told South Africa’s SABC broadcaster, “I say it was a coup d’etat — some people have refused to call it a coup d’etat,” said Mugabe referring to the brief army takeover which led to Emmerson Mnangagwa assuming power after Mugabe’s resignation.

“We must undo this disgrace which we have imposed on ourselves, we don’t deserve it… Zimbabwe doesn’t deserve it.” In another similarly vehement interview, with Britain’s ITV News, the elderly former leader said he had no desire to return to power.

“I don’t want to be president, no of course,” he said. “I’m now 94.” Mugabe told both interviewers he did not hate his successor President Mnangagwa, 75, but alleged that he had “betrayed the whole nation“.

He also said Mnangagwa’s presidency was “illegal” and “unconstitutional“.

But Justice Malaba yesterday dismissed an application by two fringe political parties seeking nullification of the inauguration of Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year.

The Liberal Democrats and Revolutionary Freedom Fighters as well as activists Bongani Nyathi, Linda Masarira and Vusumuzi Sibanda sought the greenlight to contest the legality of the President Mnangagwa-led Government.

They argued that Mr Mugabe tendered the resignation under duress and that the assumption of office by President Mnangagwa was unconstitutional.

It was also argued in the court papers that the impeachment process that was instituted prior to the resignation of Mr Mugabe was unlawful and that it served to coerce him to step down.

However, Chief Justice Luke Malaba, sitting in his Chambers, threw out the request for direct access before rubbishing the intended constitutional challenge as frivolous and vexatious.

He said Mr Mugabe carefully applied his mind and decided to step down without the embarrassment of impeachment.

“The former President’s written notice of resignation speaks for itself. It sets the context in which it was written.

“He candidly reveals the fact that he had communicated with the Speaker of Parliament at 1353 hours. In the communication, the former President expressed to the Speaker his desire to resign from the office of President.

“The Speaker must have advised him that for the resignation to have the legal effect of bringing his presidency to an end, it had to be communicated to him by means of a written notice.

“A written notice of resignation addressed to the Speaker and signed by the President, on the face of it, meets the first requirement of constitutional validity,” said the Chief Justice.

He said the contents of the letter of resignation also confirm that the author freely appended his signature and acted in terms of the law.

“What the former President said in the written notice of resignation is the best evidence available of the state of his mind at the time.

“He said he was free to express his will to resign. Not only does the former President declare in the written notice that he made the decision voluntarily, he gives reasons for doing so in clear and unambiguous language.

“He said he was motivated by the desire to ensure a smooth, peaceful and non-violent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and sustainability”.

There is no doubt, the Chief Justice said, that Mr Mugabe ensured that his resignation from office was in strict compliance with the letter and spirit of Section 96(1) of the Constitution.

Chief Justice Malaba said President Mnangagwa’s assumption of office was therefore done in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution after a vacancy occurred due to resignation.

“It is common cause that the assumption by the first respondent of the office of President was in accordance with the procedural and substantive requirements of paragraphs 14(4) (b) and 14(5) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.

“A vacancy in the office of the President occurred as a result of the resignation by the former incumbent,” he said.

Zanu-PF being the party where the former president belonged, lawfully nominated President Mnangagwa to succeed Mr Mugabe.

‘The Speaker was notified in time and the inauguration was lawfully done within the prescribed timeframes.

“The first respondent took the oath of office within the requisite 48 hours after the Speaker was notified of his name.

“As a result of strict compliance with all the procedural and substantive requirements of a constitutionally valid assumption of the office of President left vacant by reason of resignation in terms of Section 96(1) of the Constitution, the first respondent assumed office as President,” ruled Chief Justice Malaba.

Chief Justice Malaba slapped the two minority political parties and the three activists with an order for costs.

He ruled that their application lacked merit and was tantamount to an abuse of court process.

Chief Justice Malaba blasted the applicants for maliciously tarnishing the Constitutional Court registry and the State security agents in the matter.

“The litigation amounted to abuse of court process. The applicants made malicious allegations of improper conduct against the officials in the registry of the Constitutional Court, accusing them of colluding with State security agents to make documents relating to their case disappear.

“They knew that the allegations were false. They conducted themselves in this manner to attract publicity for political reasons.

“Although the applicants are unsuccessful private parties in a constitutional case, their conduct justifies an award of costs against them,” ruled the Chief Justice.

MISA Says MDC Youths Assaulted Journalist | IS THIS TRUE?

NATIONAL NEWS

By MISA| MDC Alliance youths on 15 July 2018 assaulted freelance journalist Tamuka Charakupa in Harare’s dormitory town of Chitungwiza.

According to Charakupa, he was assaulted following clashes between MDC Alliance youths and those from Zanu PF.

He said the MDC-Alliance youths were part of a convoy of vehicles that roamed Chitungwiza South for most of the afternoon canvassing for votes for the party’s candidate, Advocate Maxwell Mavhunga.

Four MDC Alliance youths accosted Charakupa as he took pictures of the clashes with his mobile phone. One of the youths snatched his phone. Charakupa’s spectacles were also broken in the process after he received a blow to his ear.
He reported the incident to the police and managed to identify two of his assailants following Mavhunga’s assistance, resulting in their arrest. The suspects who are in custody are expected to appear in court on 17 July 2018 on charges of assault and theft.

MISA Zimbabwe urges supporters of political parties to desist from perpetrating violence and assaulting journalists conducting their constitutionally protected duties of gathering and disseminating information.

Chigumba Bares All On Mnangagwa Scarf Picture

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba has revealed that a picture of her wearing a scarf which is associated with President Mnangagwa which circulated on social media platforms was taken before her appointment as ZEC chairperson.

Chigumba could not however disclose the specific date or month when the picture was taken asserting that it was taken before she became ZEC chairperson.

Celia Rukato the designer of the Mnangagwa scarf however posted the picture on 5 February 2018.

Chigumba said the scarf was designed to revive national consciousness and it was given to her as a present by the designer.

Said Chigumba:

“…the scarf which is now associated with a particular political candidate, that scarf was designed by a brilliant Zimbabwean girl who then approached a group of us when I was a High Court judge to say, “look I’ve designed a scarf in an effort to build national consciousness”.

She didn’t only design the scarf, she designed a couple of caps that said Team Zimbabwe, she designed a cloth. She was trying to revive national consciousness and pride in our country and she actually gave me that scarf as a present at that venue where she was addressing us to say “Look I have designed a national dress. I’ve designed a national cloth. I want to build national consciousness. Do you as women judges, do you as a woman judge, do you want to support me?”

And I did want to support her and I was very grateful for the present she gave me and I took a picture…Yes I did take a picture and this was before I became the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. I was a High Court judge.”

Chigumba also added that ZEC commissioner Dr Qhubani Moyo thought the picture was photoshopped because they know she would never jeopardise ZEC’s image.

Moyo was quoted by a State owned publication saying the image is fake and meant to create an impression that ZEC is partisan.

Said Chigumba:

“With regards to what I think about the statements made on my behalf by members of my staff, they obviously when they saw the picture they couldn’t believe it because they know very well how I’m always very careful around issues of perception.

So in their view they obviously thought “It is obviously a photoshop because our chairperson would never do that”.

 

 

Soldiers Fingered In Election Related Violence

Tarisai Musurudzwa

By Own Correspondent| The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused soldiers manning the premises of one Retired Nyambuya of assaulting an MDC Alliance campaign member in Mandara Harare East.

Said the PDD in a statement:

“A few hours ago soldiers guarding a place belonging to one Rt Nyambuya assaulted Tarisai Musurudzwa who was leading a team of MDC Alliance members who were distributing campaign material in Mandara-Harare East today.

Just across the street Zanu Pf members who were doing the same work were left to go about their business.

Musurudzwa was beaten and sustained serious injuries before he was also thrown in a swimming pool and made to roll in the mud in this chilly winter weather. HIs cellphone was also thrown in the water and his clothes were torn.

The continued involvement of soldiers in party politics is unacceptable in a democratic society.

We find this entitlement to determine which political party Zimbabweans must support to be an infringement of the rights specifically the provisions of section 67 of the National Constitution.

The MDC Alliance’s Plan and Environment for A Credible Election (PEACE) clearly demands that the electoral environment must not have military influence. We urge the authorities including ZEC to investigate this case and the army to stick to the promise they made in their recent press statement.”

 

 

Why Nelson Chamisa Will Lose – OPINION

Francis Gava Mufambi

By Cde Gava Mufambi| As the election draws closer, I have found it necessary to share my views on the two candidates that are perceived to be leading in the race, and as such provide my view on why I believe Mr Nelson Chamisa is going to lose this election.

The ‘Rebels Effect’

There is a school of thought that says both Mr Chamisa and President Mnangagwa are leading ‘divided’ parties. From a pedestrian analysis point of view it seems so, but this school of thought needs to be properly analysed. The perceived divisions have done more damage to the Chamisa campaign than to the Mnangagwa campaign.

To explain the above I will use the ‘in-house enemy theory’ whereby the perceived enemies who are likely to threaten your campaign are your erstwhile Comrades.

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s enemies have always been the G40 cabal who are currently either relegated from active politics or are making little impact on the ground. Recently the G40 backed NPF failed to mobilise more than 30 people for a protest march, as reported by a multiplicity of media houses in Zimbabwe.

The majority of G40 bigwigs have chosen to toe the party correct line by endorsing President ED Mnangagwa, except for a few vindictive malcontents who are trying their political fortunes in various ways, including joining Chamisa’s alliance. The chances of success are extremely slim, and most likely a rude awakening is awaiting these people.

Unlike the Zanu PF scenario where the ‘rebels’ are making little or no impact especially in the party’s strongholds, the MDC Alliance situation is different. The ‘rebels’ in the MDC have successfully managed to win over the legal battle that gives them the right to use the name and logo of the party on the ballot paper; which is likely to affect Chamisa’s chances in a damaging way.

Apart from the legal battle victory, the influential party members are capable of upsetting Chamisa’s run in this election. These include Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Moyo, Moses Mzila, Abedinigo Bhebhe, Eddie Cross, Obert Gutu, Warship Dumba, Priscilla Misihairabwi among many others.

To make matters worse, the politicians mentioned above are coming from the MDC Alliance’s perceived strongholds (Harare and Matebeleland). This means the MDC Alliance will have to fight a three headed demon; first the double candidates in their own alliance, then the MDC T candidates who will fish from their usual pond and finally, and perhaps most importantly facing a rejuvenated Zanu PF under the leadership of a reconciliatory ED Mnangagwa.

The Coalition Effect

From a traditional contest of between 2 to 5 candidates for the Presidential election, this is a historic election with 23 candidates. To explains it easier, it is Zanu PF vs 22 Presidential candidates. In actual fact the 22 candidates are sharing the opposition vote while Zanu PF largely mantains vote block – to it added the new voters and its own inroads into traditional MDC strongholds.

The MDC Alliance lacked judgement by entering into a coalition that really does not matter or change anythng.

The 7 political parties they entered into effectively are briefcase parties whose membership is only the President or simply the national executive with no or little grass-root support. In this coalition, many seats were traded using unfounded logic.

MDC-T gave itself 114 seats while others were spread over little known parties and the MDC membership are compelled to support the said candidates.

Chigumba Drops Bombshell: I’m Not In An Affair With A Party Leader

By Dorrothy Moyo| Justice Priscilla Chigumba has denied being in a relationship with a Presidential candidate.

Speaking in a LIVE interview with Ruvheneko Prirenyatwa, Justice Chigumba responded to allegations by former Sunday Mail Editor, Edmund Kudzayi to the effect. Kudzayi earlier on demanded her resignation saying, “Justice Chigumba must resign from her position at ZEC. While her privacy must ordinarily be respected, there is a strong public interest argument in this instance where a private sexual relationship fetters the discretion of a judge. I will publish the full story on Wednesday…A conflict of interest is by definition a matter of public interest…If the referee is having sex with one of the players that is a conflict of interest. Simple as that.”

But speaking in response, Chigumba said, “What I want to categorically state is, firstly my private life is my private life and it should remain exactly that, private. I will answer your question directly, I am not in any sexual relationship or any relationship whatsoever which has the potential or is likely to jeopardise my ability to discharge my functions. To answer you very explicitly; I am not in a sexual relationship with a presidential candidate.”

Chigumba Says Military Won’t At All Transport Ballot Papers | IS SHE TELLING THE TRUTH?

By Farai D Hove| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission boss, Justice Priscilla Chigumba

“The military will not be involved in the distribution of ballot papers,” she said.

She was speaking in a LIVE interview with Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa. The program continues below .

Chamisa To Hold Final Rally At The National Sports Stadium

MDC-T Harare provincial chairman Erick Murayi has announced that the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance coalition will hold its final rally before the elections at the giant National Sports Stadium on July 28.

Speaking at a rally in Glen View South to garner support for the party’s candidate for the constituency Vimbayi Tsvangirai-Java, Murayi called on the hundreds of supporters in attendance to exhibit the same spirit for the mega rally at the multipurpose National Sports Stadium, which has a carrying capacity of 60 000 people.

“We thank you for coming in your numbers and we want to tell you that on July 28, we shall have our final rally at the National Sports Stadium and we want you to come in your numbers again,” he said.

Chamisa’s countrywide rallies since he took over the leadership of the MDC-T after the death of its founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, this year, have received impressive attendance.

Tsvangirai-Java, who is Tsvangirai’s first daughter, gave a short speech in which she baited on her father’s legacy to try and lure votes for her candidature in the coming polls.

“I come before you as the first daughter of the late Morgan and Susan Tsvangirai and I am here to carry forward the legacy of my father,” she said.

“The democratic struggle of my father will continue and as Glen View, let’s do that, which will lead to the fulfilment of Morgan’s wishes in 2018 by giving Chamisa a resounding victory,” she continued.

Tsvangirai-Java allayed the embedded fears within the opposition electorate that soldiers might deny recognising victory for Chamisa ahead of Mnangagwa, saying soldiers also played a part in the march that removed Mugabe last year.

“Some are saying soldiers will not give us power because the elections are already rigged, but I say, yes, they will give us power because they marched with us in November last year, and when Chamisa wins, they will recognise his power so let’s go and vote in our numbers,” she said.

Newsday

MDC Dismisses Candidate Imposition Claims

Terrence Mawawa

MDC Presidential Spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda has dismissed allegations of candidate imposition in the MDC Alliance.

Speaking in a telephone interview with ZimEye.com Dr Sibanda said:

“My friend the issue of candidate imposition is baseless because our focus is now on the coming elections.

The Bikita East issue was resolved at national level.We therefore urge those who wish to express their grievances to call the national office.”

MDC Alliance To Camp At ZEC Until Demands Are Met

THE MDC-T and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has threatened to mobilise the opposition party’s supporters to picket at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) head office starting tomorrow until July 30 if the electoral management body fails to address their demands for transparency in the printing of ballot material by end of business today.

MDC Alliance co-principal Tendai Biti confirmed the development yesterday, saying they had started mobilising mobile toilets and tents for the thousands of opposition supporters expected to participate in the vigil.

“We will be leading from the front, we will be living on the streets. We are not going to allow this election to be stolen. They can kill us. We are prepared to die for free, fair and credible elections. We have given Zec a deadline and if they don’t address the issues raised in the petition by Monday, then we will be living on the streets,” Biti said.

“We have said this over and over again, there will be no voting. Some people talk about us boycotting the election, I don’t know where they get that. We are not boycotting, there will be no election.”

Addressing supporters at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo yesterday, Chamisa insisted that there would be no elections if Zec does not meet his grouping’s key demands — transparency in the printing of the ballot papers and security of the votes.

“We have to agree on the ballot paper. We say no to a bond ballot, a fake ballot which is pre-determined, but we want a ballot that we all agree on. So Zec is joking when it says they have finished printing the ballot paper. We say to hell with that. We are going to the poll after agreeing on a proper ballot paper,” he said.

MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Charlton Hwende said they were planning to hire 500 mobile toilets for use during their protest at the Zec headquarters in downtown Harare.

“Companies renting mobile toilets, please get in touch urgently looking for 500 mobile toilets,” Hwende said in a Facebook post.

He also threatened to mobilise for disruption of elections at all the 10 895 polling stations on election day if Zec does not give in to their demands.

“If our demands are not met on the 30th of July at all the 11 000 polling stations (sic), no voting will take place.

The only election that will ever take place in Zimbabwe will be a free and fair one. 2013 was the last disputed election. Going forward, the (sic) vote of the people will count,” Hwende said.

This came amid reports that Zec had agreed to a meeting with the youthful opposition leader and other opposition parties, under the auspices of the multi-party liaison committee to iron out their differences.

“We respectfully advise that the full Zec has agreed that your requests are best dealt with at our multi-party liaison committee in order to build consensus with the other political parties that are going to the election,” Zec’s acting chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said in a recent letter to Chamisa’s chief election agent, Jameson Timba.

“In the absence of a legal framework to guide us on how best to accommodate your request, a consensus approach is the next best alternative.”

The MDC Alliance threats set a grand stage for civil unrest ahead of an election which is at the heart of Zimbabwe re-joining the international community of nations.

But Zanu PF deputy legal secretary Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana dismissed the opposition threats as “inconsequential”.

“Does the MDC have a country or they are just a political party that is in a country which has a government? They cannot tell this nation what it can and cannot do. They are one of the 55 political parties participating in an election. So where do they get the authority to do declarations as if they are the ruling party?” he asked rhetorically.

Mangwana said Zanu PF was not worried about the threats coming from the MDC Alliance.

“Whether they like it or not, there will be an election. If they disturb the election, the law and order sector will deal with them. As Zanu PF, we are not bothered at all, they can declare, they can talk all sorts of nonsense. After all, nobody has forced them to participate in an election. There is going to be an election in Zimbabwe and if the MDC wants to participate, they are free,” Mangwana said.

Chamisa is also demanding that Zec releases a full biometric voters’ roll complete with pictures in searchable and analysable format, further to an external audit of the voters’ roll.

The opposition has drawn a red line on the ballot papers, especially its printing and designing, which it alleges favours Zanu PF candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Zec, on the other hand, has been dismissing the demands, saying they were not supported by the law and could, therefore, not be implemented.

Addressing the media on two different occasions, Chigumba said only an earthquake could stop the election from going ahead, and even if there were any errors on the voters’ roll, the polls would go ahead and those who had issues could approach the courts.

She added that Zec had the sole mandate at law of overseeing the designing of the ballot paper and its printing, and there was nowhere in the law that provides for anyone to view the printing of the ballot and help with its designing.

Chigumba said anyone seeking to do that would be compromising the independence of the commission and abusing the goodwill gesture of Zec to reach some form of consensus with the political parties.

Newsday

High Court Postpones Chamisa Voter’s Roll Case

HIGH Court Judge Justice Happias Zhou on Friday last week postponed to Thursday this week the hearing of an urgent chamber application filed by some political formations and some pro-democracy campaigners challenging a petition filed by a registered voter, who is seeking to bar the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) from releasing a voters’ roll bearing prospective voters’ photographs as stipulated by the law.

Justice Zhou postponed the matter to allow lawyers representing Ethel Mpezeni, the registered voter, to serve the opposition political parties and the pro-democracy campaigners with the urgent chamber application which she filed early last week and to also allow the opposition political formations to file their opposing papers by Monday while Mpezeni should file her answering affidavit by Wednesday.

Mpezeni recently filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court seeking to stop ZEC from acceding to demands by various political parties for the electoral management body to provide them with a voters’ roll including her photograph or anyone else’s.

In her application, Mpezeni argued that the demands by the opposition political parties violated her constitutional right to privacy.

But in their application filed by Denford Halimani of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the opposition political parties and the pro-democracy campaigners, who include MDC Alliance, Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe, People’s Democratic Party, Coalition for Democrats, National Constitutional Assembly, Theresa Manase, Evan Mawarire, Harrison Nkomo, Jeremiah Bamu, Douglas Coltart and Warship Dumba, protested that they will be seriously prejudiced by the order sought by Mpezeni, who wants to bar ZEC from releasing a voters’ roll bearing voters’ photographs.

The opposition political parties and the pro-democracy campaigners argued that the order sought by Mpezeni will have a negative implication on the credibility of the 30 July 2018 general elections, which in turn will adversely jeopardise the prospects of economic recovery in Zimbabwe, which is dependent on the outcome of the polls.

Several political parties have asked ZEC to furnish them with a voters’ roll with photographs in line with the provision of section 9(c) of the Electoral (Voter Registration) Regulations of 2017. The political parties argue that provision of the voters’ roll in this format would enhance the transparency of the voters’ roll, which has been a hotly contested issue in previous elections thereby undermining the credibility of the outcome of past elections.

The opposition political parties and some pro-democracy campaigners argued that it is in the public interest for ZEC to issue a voters’ roll with photographs to minimise areas of contestation after elections.

The applicants reasoned that the relief sought by Mpezeni is not in the public interest as it has the effect of undermining widespread calls for transparency and integrity of the electoral process.

The pro-democracy campaigners and the opposition political parties argued that every election process must be structured to ensure that only legitimately registered individuals who appear at the polls to vote are in fact who they claim to be.

This process, the applicants argued, helps to prevent electoral fraud because a photograph is a very useful tool to verify the accuracy of the voters list, to check impersonation and to detect and prevent multiple registration and curb presence of ghost voters.

Lloyd Mutasa Fumes Over Poor Officiating

Dynamos coach Llyod Mutasa

Terrence Mawawa

Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa has expressed disappointment at how the referee handled their game against Shabanie Mine on Sunday.

The Glamour Boys settled for a 2-2 draw, but Mutasa felt the home team’s first goal from the spot came as a result of bad officiating.

The coach believes Nigel Papias dived when he received a challenge inside the box.

Speaking to the club’s media after the game, Mutasa said: “It’s a pity some of these matches are not televised, and some people get off scot-free.

“Each time you say something about the referee you get fined.

“They want us to close our mouths, yet they are not doing their jobs properly. Such is football in Zimbabwe, we have to move on.”

The coach also described the pitch as unfavourable which affected his game plan.

“Even the playing field was not even, we know each time we come here, we don’t expect everything to go in our favour, but we lacked the character and zeal to understand we are playing away from home,” he added.

Mugabe is gone, But His Tactics Persist in Zimbabwe Elections

Most Zimbabweans have only ever known one president: Robert Mugabe.

But on July 30, a new man will represent Zimbabwe’s ruling party on the ballot for the first time in 38 years. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who went from being Mugabe’s right-hand man to his unseater, has taken the reins.

Although he’s a party stalwart, Mnangagwa, 75, has cast himself as a beacon of change. And after decades of authoritarian rule that isolated Zimbabwe, he is promising to end the political violence and intimidation that characterized Mugabe-era elections. International observers are in Zimbabwe for the first time in decades. But accounts from opposition supporters in this rural constituency, 50 miles from the capital city of Harare, show how the ruling party’s intimidation and patronage apparatus is still very much intact.

While observers have avoided saying outright that the campaign season has not been “free and fair,” human rights organizations and opposition groups are compiling an ever-growing number of reports of electoral malpractice, including death threats to opposition candidates, forced attendance at rallies and the distribution of government handouts to Mnangagwa supporters. (Only a small fraction — less than 50 reports — have indicated physical violence.)

Since mid-June, more than 500 reports have streamed in from all of Zimbabwe’s provinces, and nearly all were attributed to Mnangagwa’s party, ZANU-PF. A consortium of seven civil society organizations, operating together under the name We the People, has set up a call center to field and verify the reports.

The benchmark for most Zimbabweans is the 2008 election. That year, Mugabe lost the first round to his perennial challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC. Between the election and the runoff, ZANU-PF and the military carried out a campaign known internally as CIBD: coercion, intimidation, beating and displacement. More than 80 were killed, and Tsvangirai himself was brutally beaten.

“The intimidation is more subtle this time. The modus operandi has changed, but the message is the same as it was under Mugabe: ‘If you choose the wrong side, the violence will be terrible,’ ” said Zachariah Godi, who works with We the People to verify the reports the call center receives.

Bindura South is a rural constituency that saw waves of violence and displacement in 2008, and We the People is seeing a high number of reports from there this year, too. On a trip to the area in early July, nearly everyone interviewed by The Washington Post agreed that Zimbabwe is somewhat freer under Mnangagwa than Mugabe. But the trauma of 2008 is still very much alive.

In April 2008, Clifton Mawire, then 23, had his hands tied behind his back before he was shoved to the ground and beaten with wooden planks. He knew the men who thrashed him — they had grown up together. As they beat him, they asked: “ ‘Why don’t we see you at the ZANU rallies? Are you an MDC supporter?’ ”

Mawire says this year’s election feels a bit too much like 2008 to him for comfort.

“Right now, Mnangagwa is preaching peace to the world, but here ZANU is saying, ‘We know who you are, we will know who you voted for, we have your fingerprints,’” said Mawire. The government has introduced a biometric voter registration system, which has figured regularly in reported threats and raised fears, probably unfounded, that the vote will not be secret.

On the surface, much does look different a decade after 2008. Mugabe has been removed from power, and many ZANU-PF supporters speak openly about his brutality and mismanagement of the economy. Mnangagwa’s campaign is centered on “opening up Zimbabwe” for foreign investment, rather than the anti-imperialist rallying cries that made Mugabe famous.

Some ZANU-PF and army officials are still subject to international sanctions but are hoping the appearance of a free and fair election will help lift them.

Outcry over reports of irregularities has been lukewarm in part because ZANU-PF’s opposition isn’t as strong as it could be. Morgan Tsvangirai died in February after a long battle with cancer, and a 40-year-old lawyer named Nelson Chamisa has taken the helm. He speaks, improbably, of turning the country into a technology hub. He is prone to histrionics, saying he’ll boycott the election one day and relenting the next. MDC posters are rare, compared to the ubiquitous Mnangagwa banners, but they aren’t torn down immediately, like in the past.

Over decades in power, ZANU-PF conflated itself with the state, developing pervasive systems of patronage and controlling access to information. The party also demonstrated what could happen to dissenters: denial of public services, social ostracism and, in extreme cases, disappearances and killings. The army and police are widely perceived to be on its side, though the army reaffirmed its neutrality in a statement this month.

On a recent day in the call center, however, volunteers were contacted by a farmer named Saini Saini, from the Gokwe North district. He told The Post that local ZANU-PF supporters came to his home and said they would kill him if he voted for Chamisa.

“How can I report this to the police when they themselves openly wear ZANU-PF regalia?” said Saini. “We need help.”

Fear and distrust are the undercurrents of Zimbabwean opposition politics and may discourage many from voting. According to a recent Afrobarometer survey, a third of Zimbabweans believe their vote will not be counted, nearly half believe an incorrect result will be announced, and almost as many believe there will be violence after the announcement.

Nevertheless, ZANU-PF officials are adamant that a new era has begun in Zimbabwe.

At a rally in a small village in Bindura South, Remigious T. Matangira, ZANU-PF’s sitting member of parliament for the area, bellowed to the crowd: “We must show the world how democratic we are! Let the observers come and see. We have nothing to hide.”

On the sidelines of the rally, Matangira acknowledged that ZANU-PF had engaged in “hate speech” in the past but said that Zimbabwe now needed re-engagement with the wider world and that “true democracy” was the way forward. Then he named Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi and Cuba’s Fidel Castro as model leaders who “commanded the love of their people.”

While Matangira spoke, a truck arrived with 600 sacks of fertilizer. Alwin Ngoshi, a local ZANU-PF ward councilor, confirmed that the fertilizer was from the state-owned Grain Marketing Board and that village chiefs had compiled lists of loyal ZANU-PF supporters for distribution — a clear breach of electoral code.

In the secrecy of a car parked on a rural stretch of road, Baison Baison, an MDC candidate from Bindura South, showed a reporter a text message he received from a friend who had been attending a Matangira rally where the news media were not present.

“He has just threatened to kill you,” it read. “Please be careful.”

Baison said he received a similar threat from his direct opponent in the election, a ZANU-PF official named Bigboy Nyakudya. (Nyakudya denied threatening Baison.) When Baison reported it to police, he says, they told him they couldn’t help because they had no fuel for their vehicles, which had flat tires anyway. Charity Charamba, an assistant police commissioner in Harare, said that she would follow up with Baison and that all police are “adequately resourced.”

Asked about allegations of intimidation, Matangira said: “In any jungle, one may find a tame lion. A weak person may say, ‘That lion is threatening me.’ We are that lion. And the MDC is weak. The real threat to them is simply that they have no supporters.”

Zimbabwe’s minister of justice said he tended to agree.

“The only problem so far in this election is false perceptions,” said Ziyambi Ziyambi, whose position is one that Mnangagwa held for 15 years. “As for what you have seen regarding the distribution of fertilizer, you must understand that we have a culture of providing inputs to mitigate against drought and hunger. This is something that has always been done.”

Source: Max Bearak, Washington Post

MDC-Alliance Youths Assault Journalist

MDC-Alliance youths have been accused of assaulting freelance journalist Tamuka Charakupa in Harare’s dormitory town of Chitungwiza on Sunday.

According to Charakupa, he was assaulted following clashes between MDC-Alliance youths and those from Zanu PF. He said the MDC-Alliance youths were part of a convoy of vehicles that roamed Chitungwiza South for most of the afternoon canvassing for votes for the party’s candidate, Advocate Maxwell Mavhunga.

Four MDC-Alliance youths accosted Charakupa as he took pictures of the clashes with his mobile phone. One of the youths snatched his phone. Charakupa’s spectacles were also broken in the process after he received a blow to his ear.

He reported the incident to the police and managed to identify two of his assailants following Mavhunga’s assistance, resulting in their arrest. The suspects who are in custody are expected to appear in court on Tuesday on charges of assault and theft.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA, expressed concerns on the attack of the journalist. The organisation urged political parties to desist from the habit of assaulting journalists who are doing their work.

“MISA Zimbabwe urges supporters of political parties to desist from perpetrating violence and assaulting journalists conducting their constitutionally protected duties of gathering and disseminating information,” said the media monitoring body in a statement.

Gun Totting Man: ZRP Speaks

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has revealed that the cops are already in the process of identifying the gun totting criminal who fired a live bullet in the air in Harare whose video is doing the rounds on social media.

Said the ZRP on their official Twitter account:

VIDEO: Is Mnangagwa Directly Telling Us That “The Evil Bygones” Are Running State House Right Now?

 

By Own Correspondent | The same man who criticised former First Lady Grace Mugabe for using church podiums for politics, the very same reason he declared a coup on his boss, Robert Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, caused a scene at a vapositori church in Marange. This incident comes just 8 months after Mnangagwa wrote a strongly worded letter declaring while fleeing Zimbabwe, that he would return to lead and Grace Mugabe would be punished for abusing church platforms. Mnangagwa can be seen in the below fresh video declaring to a completely silent congregation: “Pamberi ne ZANU PF, pamberi ne ZANU PF! [NO ANSWER].”

After realising the lack of interest, he then continues to immediately announce, “we shall hand all of you t-shirts,” once again to a totally unresponsive church crowd. SEE THE BELOW FOOTAGE:

Kwese TV To Broadcast COSAFA U-17 Tournament

Terrence Mawawa

Kwese TV will broadcast the 2018 edition of the COSAFA Under-17 tournament.

The competition will be held on 19 to 29 July in Mauritius.

All games will be live on Kwese Free Sports (KFS) channel.

“The 2018 @COSAFAMEDIA Under-17 Championship starts on July 19 and runs to July 29 LIVE on KFS with the tournament open to all 14 of the COSAFA nations. #KweseFootballpic.twitter.com/Trf1arTFrN”

— Kwesé ESPN (@kwesesports) July 16, 2018

Meanwhile, the final batch of the Zimbabwe squad arrived in the hosting country yesterday and will play their first game against Swaziland on the 20th of July.

“The Elders” In Historic Zim Visit

By Own Correspondent| A delegation of The Elders led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and comprising of Mary Robinson and Lakhdar Brahimi will from 19 to 21 July visit Zimbabwe to try and ensure a free, fair and credible poll.

The Elders, who identify themselves as an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights [who] represent an independent voice, not bound by the interests of any nation, government or institution will meet with political parties to try to ensure a free, fair and credible election.

In a statement, The Elders said:

“Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders and the Kofi Annan Foundation and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will lead the delegation.

He will be joined by Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Minister of Algeria and UN diplomat.

The delegation expects to meet political leaders, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the diplomatic community, civil society representatives and media.”

In November 2008, former president Robert Mugabe barred The Elders from entering the country.

The delegation which was barred by Mugabe included Kofi Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel.

MDC Alliance Partners Clash In Bikita

Terrence Mawawa

The MDC Alliance is likely to field two candidates in Bikita East Constituency as confusion continues to rock the coalition.

According to sources in the alliance, the seat was initially allocated to Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume and one Boniface Mudzingwa, an MDC member was allegedly imposed by senior party officials.

Ngarivhume has vowed to stand as the MDC Alliance Parliamentary Candidate for Bikita East Constituency while Mudzingwa is also claiming he is the chosen candidate for the same constituency.

“We are likely to have two candidates in Bikita East because both of them are unwilling to step down,” MDC Alliance sources said yesterday.

Senior MDC Official Defects To Zanu PF

“I was visited by my ancestors in a dream and they told me to join Zanu-PF.”

Terrence Mawawa| A senior MDC official has dumped the opposition party to join Zanu PF.

Former MDC deputy provincial youth chairperson(Masvingo Province), Tavengegweyi Machingura yesterday publicly denounced the MDC and indicated he had decided to join the ruling party because of its viable policies.

Machingura, a seasoned MDC cadre stunned all and sundry when he dumped the opposition party.

“This is my personal decision and I am happy to join the revolutionary party.

There is no coordination in the MDC so I have decided to distance myself from the chaos,” said Machingura.

He said in full: “I was visited by my ancestors in a dream and they told me to join Zanu-PF. To those who knew me in this area, I was one of the founders of the party and I was walking side by side with Nelson Chamisa. I have come back to Zanu-PF after realising that there is darkness in MDC-Alliance. I have not benefited anything in MDC-Alliance and have decided to be in the light in the Zanu-PF, a party which has a visionary leader in the person of President Mnangagwa.”

Gumbi ‘Imposes’ MDC Cadres As Parliamentary Candidates

 

Terrence Mawawa

Internecine battles have hit the MDC Alliance two weeks before the crucial General Elections, according to sources in the coalition.

Coalition partners in Masvingo Province are unhappy with MDC Provincial Chairperson James Gumbi’ s alleged imposition of cadres from the opposition party as Parliamentary candidates.

Below is Gumbi’ s letter:

This memo serves to inform the Masvingo MDC Alliance members that the following cadres will represent MDC Alliance in the forth coming harmonised elections.

This was done by the MDC Alliance national directorate to solve the issue of double candidates in Masvingo Province.

Therefore all cadres are requested to support these cadres.

ZakaWest: Mr F. Dumbu

G

MDC-T Masvingo Chairman

utu West : Mr S. Manguma

Bikita East:
Mr Mudzingwa

Chiredzi West ward 2: Mazuru.

I will resolve the Gutu Central issue today through council as directed by the President Nelson Chamisa.

Chamisa, Ngarivhume Clash Over Imposition Of Candidates

Nelson Chamisa

Terrence Mawawa

Tension is simmering in the MDC Alliance following the alleged imposition of candidates in several constituencies across the country.

Sources in the coalition yesterday claimed MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob Ngarivhume clashed over the imposition of candidates in constituencies in Masvingo Province and other parts of the country- when the two leaders met for a briefing.

“There is rising tension between Chamisa and Ngarivhume because the latter feels he is being shortchanged by his alliance partner.

Yesterday the two had an altercation over the imposition of candidates,” sources in the alliance claimed.

“Ngarivhume is demanding political space, which he is being denied resulting in friction between the two leaders,” an official in the MDC Alliance said yesterday.

Why Is President Mnangagwa Imitating Grace Mugabe?

 

By Own Correspondent | The same man who criticised former First Lady Grace Mugabe for using church podiums for politics, the very same reason he declared a coup on his boss, Robert Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, caused a scene at a vapositori church in Marange. This incident comes just 8 months after Mnangagwa wrote a strongly worded letter declaring while fleeing Zimbabwe, that he would return to lead and Grace Mugabe would be punished for abusing church platforms. Mnangagwa can be seen in the below fresh video declaring to a completely silent congregation: “Pamberi ne ZANU PF, pamberi ne ZANU PF! [NO ANSWER].”

After realising the lack of interest, he then continues to immediately announce, “we shall hand all of you t-shirts,” once again to a totally unresponsive church crowd. SEE THE BELOW FOOTAGE:

SA “Public Prosecutor” Posts Shocking Tweet Containing Allegations On Uebert Angel’s Wife And Pastor Chris

As Uebert Mudzanire’s wife continues to be called “Queen Mother” by her church, the South African legal blogger, “Public Prosecutor” has published the below tweet.

FULL TEXT:

Culprit Who Pulled LIVE Gunshot Identified

By Farai D Hove| The man who was filmed while firing a LIVE bullet in front of his colleagues, has been named as Trevor J Kudenga.

The Harare man is seen in pictures while at front seats at ZANU PF meetings(see pictures). The Zimbabwean community was enraged yesterday when the man’s gunshot video was posted online. Many expressed dismay saying that he might not even be arrested due to his political connections. Some commentators made allegations that he is in fact an MDC member. But ZimEye can reliably reveal that he is Mr Kudenga who is a well known ZANU PF card carrying member.

MORE TO FOLLOW…

BREAKING- Kazembe Kazembe Allies Convicted Of Theft

By Own Correspondent| A Bindura magistrate, Vongai Muchuchuti has convicted two Zanu PF stalwarts both of whom are staunch allies of Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Kazembe Kazembe of stealing from a Harare businessman food stuffs which were meant for his campaign team during the Zanu PF primaries in Concession.

Tafadzwa Musarara, who was in the race with Kazembe during Zanu Pf primary elections lost food stuffs valued at over $10 000 after Kazembe’s allies allegedly stole the goods.

Muchuchuti convicted two of the four men who were identified in the looting, Jonah Ngwenya and Boyd Fungulani and moved the sentence to this afternoon.

Ngwenya is Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial secretary for Transport.

However, the other two accomplices to Ngwenya and Fungulani did not pitch up for the sentencing since last week on Friday when they were supposed to be sentenced, forcing the magistrate to postpone sentencing to today.

This is a developing story. Details to follow.

Refresh the page for updates.

 

“I Have Not Resigned”: ZEC Chairperson

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba has denied news reports circulating on social media that she has resigned.

ZEC boss, Chigumba desribed as fake  social media reports that she has resigned from her post.

The reports attributed Chigumba’s purported resignation to pressure from preparations for the July 30 harmonised elections.

Dismissing the reports, Zec commissioner Qhubani Moyo said:

“Take note of this fake news story in circulation meant to derail elections.”

Last week, Chigumba also dismissed reports that she had resigned from her position as the ZEC boss saying:

“I am hearing it from you. I am yet to be told of my resignation. I will surely tell you about it when I am advised.”

ZEC Cancels Presser

ZEC Chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has cancelled today’s Monday brief to the media.

The reasons behind the cancellation of the presser could not be confirmed.

The ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba is on record saying the elections body will ensure a free, fair, transparent poll, an assertion which the opposition MDC Alliance has disputed arguing that the ZEC is a biased umpire who is protecting the interests of Zanu Pf.

MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti told a local publication over the weekend that the Alliance was preparing to take to the streets until election day if the ZEC does not implement the demands of opposition political parties as presented in their petition.

Last week, the Alliance painted Harare red when protestors took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration against “election irregularities by the ZEC” some of which include failure to provide an auditable voters roll with pictures and failure by ZEC to allow political parties to observe ballot printing

“The ZEC is guided and only acts within the confines of the law,” Justice Chigumba is on record saying.

Four Nabbed Over Social Media Abuse

By Own Correspondent| Four people have been arrested over peddling falsehoods and spreading hate messages on various social media sites the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) commander for 2018 harmonised elections Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, has revealed.

Commissioner Makodza said since the election dates were proclaimed, the four had abused social media through publishing falsehoods and hate speech but the police were also investigating other cases of interest.

Said Senior Assistant Commissioner Makodza while speaking to a local publication:

“We are already making investigations on certain cases that have been reported to us. We need more resources to equip the police so as to function efficiently. So far, four people have been arrested for hate speech and falsehoods since the election season began.”

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acting chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana also said:

“The Commission has on a few occasions been asked to respond to such news, we warn perpetrators of fake news to desist from such conduct as it is not only criminal, it is also an abuse of social media…

The Commission has begun to roll out a nationwide voter education campaign where the public will be sensitised on these and other issues and possible consequences thereof.”-Sunday Mail.

Massive Street Vigil Over ZEC Imminent

By Own Correspondent| The MDC Alliance has given the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) until end of day today to implement opposition’s demands for a free, fair and transparent poll failure of which the Alliance will organise a massive vigil at the elections body head offices.

MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti told a local publication thaf failure by ZEC to implement the opposition’s demands will see citizens camp at the elections body offices until election day on July 30.

Said Biti: “We will be leading from the front, we will be living on the streets. We are not going to allow this election to be stolen. They can kill us. We are prepared to die for free, fair and credible elections.

We have given ZEC a deadline and if they don’t address the issues raised in the petition by Monday, then we will be living on the streets. We have said this over and over again, there will be no voting. Some people talk about us boycotting the election, I don’t know where they get that. We are not boycotting, there will be no election.”

MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Charlton Hwende on his Facebook page confirmed the development and called on companies with mobile toilets to contact the party.

Wrote Hwende: “Companies renting mobile toilets, please get in touch urgently looking for 500 mobile toilets.”

However, Zanu-PF’ s deputy legal Secretary Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana dismissed the opposition’s threats, arguing that the MDC Alliance had no mandate to dictate the country’s  agenda.

“Does the MDC have a country or they are just a political party that is in a country which has a government? They cannot tell this nation what it can and cannot do.

They are one of the 55 political parties participating in an election. So where do they get the authority to do declarations as if they are the ruling party?”

SCARY TEXT MESSAGES: Lawyers Sue ZANU PF

“they know where you stay; they know your phone number, that is scary…”

By Gerald C Juma| Lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights are suing ZANU PF members over sms messages said to be scary, which were sent out as a coordinated mass marketing service.

This was revealed at a meeting where the ZLHR’s Noble Chinhano said they are preparing papers..

He said they are furthermore looking into challenging the candidacy of some candidates involved in vote buying. Chinhano said, “we are working on a chamber application, but we can’t point at ZEC because there is no proof; still, political parties are not allowed to send such messages to people.

“When the messages were initially sent we thought it was a service provider, but we got to understand it could not be. We don’t think it’s (industry regulator) POTRAZ because they (the persons who provided the information to Zanu PF) have more information than what these guys have. We think that only the commission has that information. It is very intimidating to receive such information because you would know they know where you stay; they know your phone number, that is scary.”

ZANU PF Takes Swipe At Matabeleland “Cry Babies”

George Nare

PEOPLE from Matabeleland region should grab opportunities availed by Government instead of endlessly crying about marginalisation, a senior Zanu-PF official said on Sunday.

Addressing Zanu-PF rallies held in Nketa and Cowdray suburbs, the party’s commissariat director Retired Colonel George Nare said people from Matabeleland were shying away from opportunities and using marginalisation as an excuse for their failures.

Rtd Col Nare was addressing rallies that were initially supposed to be addressed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who could not make it as he was committed elsewhere.

He challenged people from Matabeleland region to take advantage of the opportunities availed by Government instead of always crying about marginalisation which was not there.

“The problem we have in Bulawayo, it might sadden some of you but the fact is that people from Bulawayo always shy away from opportunities. They do so based on history. Things that occurred we know what happened, it’s painful it’s saddening, but that does not stop you from focusing on the future and your children’s future,” he said.

Rtd Col Nare said people from the region have always been sceptical about opportunities availed by Government.

He said youths from the region were not applying to join the police, military, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services and Central Intelligence Organisation under Government’s quota system.

“As we are speaking the selection of officers to join the army is ongoing but youths from the region are not taking up these opportunities. We know that there is something called marginalisation but if you look at this issue more closely you will realise that at times we are marginalising ourselves,” he said.

Rtd Col Nare highlighted the Command Livestock programme, loans being offered through the Women’s Bank and Empower Bank as some of the opportunities that people from the region should take advantage of.

Rtd Col Nare urged party supporters to be cautious of people who use the Gukurahundi issue to solicit for votes.

He said President Mnangagwa set up the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to address the issue.

“In other words he is already addressing the issue unlike the opposition, the likes of Chamisa (Nelson) who are campaigning using Gukurahundi. They come to you who were affected by Gukurahundi crying more than the bereaved in order to solict for your votes,” he said.

ED’s Masowe Boob

For my Zanu friends who are close to ED.

By Ndaba Nhuku| The ED Masowe war cry is a reflection of African politicians’ lack of preparation for public presentations.

What was ED saying? Inspiring? A borrowed war cry? Marketing his t-shirts? Campaigning? Preaching like a madzibaba? Am embarrassed for him and mainly his advisors who let him down! It’s about time our leaders accepted advisors’ role and the need to prepare their speeches in advance. Nkomo and Mugabe were excellent at preparing and reading their speeches and matching them with their audiences. Chamisa is a natural orator aided by charisma. He is however unable to read and respond to audiences’ reactions. The rest need to prepare thoroughly for their presentations.

ED team must advice him to prepare his speeches in front of a mirror with the aid of his advisors. Advisors should not fear coaching their bosses behind the scenes. Those are the people he should be free with the most. They know his needs, strengths and weaknesses. They know how he speaks, when he is tired, when he needs water, and his likes.

Our African leaders must not thrive on being feared and having everyone cow in their presence. Over the last six months he has been in power, ED must have improved in his presentations. If he failed to learn anything under Mugabe, he should by now have set up his own media advisory team and exclude that arrogant Charamba who may one day give him a wrong speech!! ED is not a natural at public speaking. He doesn’t think fast on his feet like most politicians. He therefore needs to prepare and practice his speeches with his team before standing in front of the world. This is a man marketing his leadership to the world and does want the world to see this crap.

Do mapositori wear his colourful t-shirts? No. They wear their white uniform gowns. So this is a very misplaced speech or sermon, whatever his advisors thought it was. Guys, get your act together and stop embarrassing ED. Ndaba Nhuku

Development Coming To Nkayi: Lovemore Nkomazana

By Mangosuthu Mbele| The MRP senate candidate for Nkayi North and South Lovemore Nkomazana has pledged his total support for devolution and development in his area. In an interview with this reporter, Nkomazana said the people of Nkayi have welcomed the MRP message and will vote for it.

The aspiring Senator Nkomazana, a passionate construction worker, decried the continued regional segregation in areas of job creation and infrastructural development. Giving Nkayi as an example, Nkomazana pointed out that the mining claims must be under the control of local government so as to benefit the locals.

“Lapho kutsho ukuthi ilocal government izoqatsha amalocals njalo izinto ezifana lesikorokoza ziyobe zingasekho ngoba indawo abakorokoza khona ziyophendulwa amamines baqhashwe khona on monthly pay basis on safe working conditions with provision for human,engineering, proper environmental support and safe infrastructure.(this will ensure that local authorites employ their locals so that illegal mining activities can be eradicated and gold panners may be employed on monthly pay)” said Nkomazana.

He said despite ZanuPF and opposition having so called seasoned politicians as candidates in his area he was confident MRP would win by a landslide and stop the brain drain currently affecting the country.

“My plan is to share this idea to my leaders in my constituency and to try and implement it. Ngifuna abantu bakithi bathole imisebenzi enamapensions and abatsha nabo bathole amathuba azayenza bangayi phandle kwelizwe ngobunengi (I will share this idea with my local leaders. I want our people to get employment with pensions so as to stop brain drain en-mass to other countries)” added Nkomazana.

Though MRP might face stiff competition from ZanuPF, MDCT and MDC Alliance for the gold rich Nkayi area, Mr. Nkomazana pointed out that MRP had become a house hold name in Nkayi and people were ready to vote for it.

Nkomazana further added that although resources were hard to come-by, the sacrifice from local donors was making the campaign to proceed well. He said despite other parties getting political parties fund allocation from the government, MRP did not receive anything and they relied heavily on well wishers.

Khupe Endorses ZEC, Cries For Cash From Gvt

Thokozani Khupe

MDC-T president Dr Thokozani Khupe has lashed out at political parties that are threatening to boycott the July 30 harmonised elections saying they are confused.

Dr Khupe attacked the parties while she was addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Saturday.

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has repeatedly threatened to boycott the polls.

“As MDC-T, we are contesting in this election. We are aware that there is a lot of confusion where reports are saying that some parties are contemplating boycotting this election. As for us, we are not part of that confusion. We are contesting this election come 30 July. We are calling on Zimbabweans to come in their numbers to vote for us,” she said.

Dr Khupe said the party has issues that they need to be addressed by Zec.

“As a party we have issues with Zec and we will by Monday write legally to them raising these issues. It should be noted that our issues are not in any way connected to any legal reforms because as it stands, the law states in Section 157 sub-section 5 that you cannot change anything at this stage when we are almost on the 30th. We are asking Zec to implement Section 239 of the Constitution and its regulations,” said Dr Khupe.

She applead to Government to assist political parties with resources to deploy polling agents to the 11 000 polling stations across the country.

“My party does not have the capacity to deploy 22 000 polling agents to the 11 000 polling stations, hence the appeal to Government to assist with resources,” she said.

Dr Khupe said it was in the Government’s interest to ensure that the election is not disputed and as such must assist all political parties to monitor the voting process at every polling station.

She said her party was worried about the security of the vote, hence it wants agents to be deployed to all polling stations.

“We value secrecy of the ballot and voting process but we are told that you vote with your back to the polling agents, literally in the open and we condemn that. We are calling on Zec to rectify that and we also call upon Zec to ensure that polling stations are big enough to accommodate all polling agents,’’ she said.

The MDC-T president said Zec should ensure voting facilities accommodate people living with disabilities and expectant mothers.

Dr Khupe said Zec should urgently avail a sample of the ballot paper to political parties.

She said her party was not moved by the Bulawayo Ross Camp Police postal voting incident, which has been the subject in most political debates.

“As MDC-T, we are not so much worried about the voting that happened at Ross Camp by the police a few days ago because it is provided for in Sections 71 and 73 of the electoral Act. The clause talks about the receipt of the ballot papers but does not specify when it should start. To us, that is not much of an issue,” she said.

“Our concern however is the rumour that the police officers were forced by their seniors to vote. If that is the case, we are calling upon the forced officers to use channels available to them to rectify the abuse. It is everyone’s constitutional right to vote freely,”she said.

State Media

Chigumba Says Whether You Like It Or Not, Last Week’s Ross Camp Postal Votes Are Valid

By Dorrothy Moyo| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s boss has said that postal votes that were cast in Bulawayo last week remain valid and cannot be nullified unless there is evidence of electoral malpractice that warrants their cancellation.

“Unless we actually have evidence that somebody was intimidated or forced to exercise the postal vote against their will. So my preliminary answer will be ‘yes’ they will be valid unless there is evidence of electoral malpractice around the exercise of that postal vote,” said Justice Chigumba.

She comtinued saying postal voting was optional and applicants were free to withdraw and present themselves to a polling station.

“Around the issue of validity of the postal vote. For those people who have been asked to use the postal vote it was firstly out of concern, with particular regards to ZRP they will be posted to do duties on polling day outside their polling stations, so this was the rationale. Instead of denying them their right to vote because of deployment, why can’t we utilise the postal vote? I encourage those who are not willing to exercise postal vote to simply decline and present themselves to their polling station on polling day,” she added.

Chiwenga Exposes Mnangagwa’s Lies

General Sibanda

Vice President Constatino Chiwenga has told a Contradicting story to sensitional reports by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on how he escaped from the country when under siege from former President Robert Mugabe last year.

Chiwenga revealed that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda actually helped in the safe escape of Mnangagwa not the border jumping story which Mnangagwa related.

Addressing mourners at the burial of Gogo Yowana Kubvoruno, mother to General Sibanda in Gokwe’s Dera area on Sunday, Chiwenga said he first got the information about the President’s dismissal from Government from Gen Sibanda.

Chiwenga said acting on his instruction, Gen Sibanda played a pivotal role in the escape of Mnangagwa to Mozambique until he got a safe temporary shelter in that country.

“Today I want to tell you something I had never told anyone, a secret that has been between me and General Sibanda whose mother we are burying today.

“At the height of the madness that had rocked the country in November last year when senior officials in Government were being rebuked in public, a development which culminated in the dismissal of President Mnangagwa from Government and his position as Vice President of the party, I was out of the country in China on duty.

“General Sibanda then phoned to brief me on the sad developments and I asked him what we were supposed to do.

“We then had a discussion and I said to him, this man’s life is in danger he might be killed please do everything possible to make sure that he (President Mnangagwa) gets out of the country safe and alive. Gen Sibanda acted on that instruction and the President was taken out safely,” he said.

Chiwenga said Gen Sibanda dispatched three security details who escorted President Mnangagwa out of the country before they returned into Zimbabwe through the Mozambique border despite the fact that one of them had no passport.

“General Sibanda managed to take out President Mnangagwa safely. One of the three security details who took the President out had no passport but they managed to return home through the Mozambique border without passports.

“This man did a sterling job which I thought he would not accomplish,” said VP Chiwenga.

“After taking the President out, the army under the leadership of General Sibanda remained calm, maintaining peace while the country was at a standstill until I returned.

“I returned some few days later and we had an emergency meeting and decided to launch an operation, again when we were deliberating on the name of the operation, General Sibanda was the one who came up with the name Operation Restore Legacy, which became a huge success.”

Chiwenga described Gen Sibanda as a gallant hero who left some indelible marks in the country’s liberation struggle and in neighbouring countries where he operated.

He said the General’s mother was resting in peace knowing well that she bore the country a true hero.

Mnangagwa’s sensational story included him having to walk through the Mozambique jungle through the night after escaping gun shots at the border.

“I was fired at 4pm and left the office and by 6.30 pm, one of the security guys came to inform me that he must be part of a group that had a mission to eliminate me,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was pleasurable to wait to be eliminated. I left within four hours of being fired for the Mozambican border. I arrived at the border and our side of the border stamped my passport, but before they could lift the boom for me to cross into Mozambique, it was closed. The message came that I was not allowed to leave Zimbabwe. I said in that case there was no need, I (will) go back. They said again I was not allowed to go back into Zimbabwe but I said ‘you can’t stop me’. What case have I committed? As I was walking away, they tried to fire (at me) but I have one young man, one of my twin sons, was there. He is an officer and was able to grab the weapon and I was not shot.”

The President went on: “Then you know for many years I operated in Mozambique in the department of security. I know the area and it’s infested with land mines. Those things are still there, you walk in-between strings to avoid landmines. I did (that) from about 9 pm until about 7.30 the next day. I arrived in Mozambique and we had a lift back to the border to have my passport stamped again on the Mozambican side. Then I phoned a colleague from South Africa that I was on my way to Beira. By the time we arrived in Beira, a small plane had arrived from South Africa to pick me up and I went to South Africa.”

Dear H.E Nelson Nero Chamisa

Dear H.E Nelson Nero Chamisa

I hope I find you well mwanangu. I haven’t been feeling too well this week, flue is killing me. However my bed rest was brought to a sudden halt with your press conference nezuro ku-Harvest house. Mmmhhh I was touched. I felt like crying. Why is ED rigging like this?

Today morning I got an invite to the MaKhuphe MDC-T press conference as well. Aaahh it was so sad to hear those words from Linda. How can police vote without any observers or political party agents? Nhai Chamisa what is this ED up to?

Mwanangu Nero let me remind you that it’s only about 17 days before Election Day. I’m rather disappointed in you Chamisa. You are big let down in our lives. I’m equally disappointed in Makhuphe as well. Infact I’m disappointed with Zimbabwean politicians. We are in this mess today because of you.

I may not be schooled Advocate Chamisa but I feel like challenging your LLB. Are you sure it’s even authentic? Mmhhh I smell a Dr Amai here.

Chamisa (Between me and you) did you even read the electoral act? Did you read section 71 on postal voting?

Mwanangu which part of the electoral act says postal voting must be observed by political agents or ZEC? Chamisa and MaKhuphe you embarrass me. I feel so sad to think that you guys have been our trusted legislators since early 2000s. Instead of reading legislations and understanding them, you spent 5 years arguing about sitting allowances and building bridges only to waste our time with your demos today blaming ZEC for your own ignorance.

Where were you both when the electoral act was amended to remove Special Voting? Did ED amend it unilaterally? Did u even debate on the bill before it became law?

Cde Chamisa let me help you: Postal voting doesn’t require any ZEC official nor any political party agent to be present. The only thing we can say is that voters must be free from any intimidation. If you think the police commanding officer would have intimidated his officers, why didn’t you insert an amendment in the electoral act making sure the political observers and ZEC reps are allowed when ever people vote at police stations?

These are the MDC fruits of giving us council material to put into parliament. These are the fruits of voting popular rich people who promise to build bridges without even knowing that the major job of an MP is legislative.

Chamisa and MaKhuphe can you make sure your MPs know what a job of an MP is. I wonder what you guys were doing for the past 5 years in parliament though besides singing.

When you Honourables (as you like to be called) manage to go into parliament this time please insert this amendment in section 71 of Electoral act:

No voting must take place at a police camp or army barracks. ZEC must publish dates and venues of postal voting for disciplined forces within Zimbabwe which must take place in present of ZEC, political party agents as well as election observers.

Mwanangu I hope you won’t take offence. Pass my message to my daughter MaKhuphe.

Ndini tetevako

Mai Chiko.

“No Change To Schools Calendar”: Mavima

By Own Correspondent| The November Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) will not be affected by the forthcoming plebiscite and examinations will go ahead as scheduled, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima has said.

Professor Mavima dispelled rumours that the school calendar would be disrupted by the elections revealing that Zimsec examinations will proceed as scheduled.

Said Mavima:

“This is not the first time we have held elections, we have been holding elections in the past but we have never suspended examinations or classes. There is definitely no reason for us to suspend examinations. These are works of mischievous people who feel they can temper around with the education sector.

There are mechanisms put in place to ensure that lost time is recovered. We are closing schools on 26 July and reopening a week earlier. We will also allow holiday lessons to take place as long as they are approved by the ministry. So we are doing everything to make sure that we cover up for lost time.”

“Chamisa Is Annointed”

Thousands of MDC Alliance supporters and residents of Masvingo yesterday (Sunday) braved the rain and flocked to the coalition’s star rally at Mucheke Stadium.

Citizens reacted differently to the story run by ZimEye on Chamisa addressing party supporters despite the rains with others alleging that the winter rain which fell at Mucheke stadium was a signal that the Alliance President was “annointed”.

Why Is Mnangagwa Suddenly Copying Grace Mugabe?

By Own Correspondent | The same man who criticised former First Lady Grace Mugabe for using church podiums for politics, the very same reason he declared a coup on his boss, Robert Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, caused a scene at a vapositori church in Marange. This incident comes just 8 months after Mnangagwa wrote a strongly worded letter declaring while fleeing Zimbabwe, that he would return to lead and Grace Mugabe would be punished for abusing church platforms. Mnangagwa can be seen in the below fresh video declaring to a completely silent congregation: “Pamberi ne ZANU PF, pamberi ne ZANU PF! [NO ANSWER].”

After realising the lack of interest, he then continues to immediately announce, “we shall hand all of you t-shirts,” once again to a totally unresponsive church crowd. SEE THE BELOW FOOTAGE:

ZANU PF Man Filmed Firing LIVE Bullets In Front Of Everyone Named

By Farai D Hove| The man who was filmed while firing a LIVE bullet in front of his colleagues, has been named as Trevor J Kudenga.

The Harare man is seen in pictures while at front seats at ZANU PF meetings(see pictures). The Zimbabwean community was enraged yesterday when the man’s gunshot video was posted online. Many expressed dismay saying that he might not even be arrested due to his political connections. Some commentators made allegations that he is in fact an MDC member. But ZimEye can reliably reveal that he is Mr Kudenga who is a well known ZANU PF card carrying member.


MORE TO FOLLOW…

“Africa Stuck With Fossils?” Zimbabwe Will Have A Young President In Two Weeks!

Below is a series of discussions at the weekend on future leadership:

https://twitter.com/LordScott_II/status/1018568709525340160?s=19

https://twitter.com/Ed_Almighty/status/1018551159521533953?s=19

https://twitter.com/KingAbsolute_/status/1018585929726996481?s=19

https://twitter.com/gilbertnya/status/1018600906437332994?s=19

 

Paul Chingoka Sudden Death

Paul Chingoka
TENNIS Zimbabwe president Martin Lock has said the late Paul Chingoka will always be remembered for his tireless efforts to develop the game in the country.

The former tennis president passed on last Friday and will be buried today at Warren Hills Cemetery.
Under Chingoka’s leadership, the Zimbabwean Davis Cup team scaled great heights as they were promoted into the World Group and played against some of the best teams in the world at the time. Zimbabwe then, had built their core around the Black brothers – Wayne and Byron and doubles specialist Kevin Ullyett.

The Zimbabwe Davis Cup team competed at the same level with the United States of America and Australian teams that had the likes of Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, Pat Rafter, Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.

“It’s very sad to hear. Paul was president in the heydays when we had the likes of Byron Black Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyet. Those were the glory days of Zimbabwean tennis because we competed at the highest level.

“He did very well mobilising sponsors and spearheading support as well. The results were there for everyone to see and we would want to thank him for his immense contributions. “Even after he had completed his stint as Tennis Zimbabwe president we were still in touch with him. He came to support Davis Cup matches although he had largely taken a back seat from the administration of the game.
“We will sadly miss him. Our thoughts are with the Chingoka family at this sad hour. Allow me to pass our sincere condolences as Tennis Zimbabwe” said Lock.

During his tenure, tennis in Zimbabwe was transformed from an elitist sport and was popularised across the country. The period also saw the rise of black players such as Genius Chidzikwe, Gwinyai Tongoona and Martin Dzuwa.

Chingoka also sat in the ITF board and the Davis Cup Committee for Africa. He was chef de mission of tennis at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and was chef de mission of the ZOC in Sydney for the 2000 Olympics.- state media

“Thokozani Khupe And Obert Gutu Fighting Chamisa Not ZEC”

ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba reminds me of Tobaiwa Mudede: an arrogant, Zanu PF sympathiser and a man who presided over a biased election for years writes Gus Manatsa.

Below are thoughts from Manatsa on ZEC, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa.

What Zanu Pf President Emmerson Mnangagwa fails to realise is that he is a coup president. Noone elected him. He has no legitimacy. He is one of the most unelectable politicians in the country. He inspires no one except those hardcore Zanu supporters. But then the hardcore Zanuists are fast becoming a rare breed.

But let’s give him benefit of the doubt. Mnangagwa needs legitimacy before any country or big business can consider investing in this country. He should be the one pushing ZEC to be transparent to ensure free, fair and credible election.

If by some miracle, Mnangagwa is elected president in a free and fair environment, he will gain instant legitimacy. The world will be ready to talk business with him. In a nutshell, ED needs a transparent electoral commission than any other candidate in this race.

Satisfied

It is good for MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa to hold ZEC to account. The Alliance has had to return to the streets because everything has failed- letter, election agent, telephone calls. The Alliance has the numbers, it has the people behind it. Additionally, the Alliance seems to be the only party concerned with the ZEC disorder. All the other 22 presidential candidates seem to be satisfied with the ZEC shenanigans.

Nelson Chamisa is the only opposition party with MPs in parliament. It is therefore futile for ZEC to try to treat Chamisa the same as other presidential contestants. Only Chamisa and Mnangagwa have parliamentary representation. In reality, the contest is between these two.

Some opposition parties are fighting Chamisa, not ZEC, especially Obert Gutu and Thokozani Khupe.

Confusion

There are real worries that ZEC is hiding the ballot paper to ensure Mnangagwa has an urge. Come polling day, Mnangagwa’s name will be at the top, while Khupe’s MDC will be placed next to Chamisa’s to maximise voter confusion. The MDC Alliance and MDC Thokozani have similar symbols likely to confuse voters especially seniors.

Given all this, it makes sense for Chamisa to use people power to get ZEC moving. Otherwise its back to the Mudede era.

By keeping quiet or being dismissive, Mnangagwa is further eroding the goodwill Zimbabweans and the world had given him. He is showing that he is no different from his predecessor. He is a dangerous smooth talker but very thin on doing anything effective.

Zanu PF Wary Of Chamisa’s Massive Crowds

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa

Terrence Mawawa

Zanu PF is terribly afraid of losing the coming elections,a leading research organisation has said.

According to the International Political Research Institute (IPRI), fear has gripped the Zimbabwean government as
Nelson Chamisa has broken a record crowd pulling attendance in African political history.

The visionary and youthful MDC leader has gathered so much support and rally attendance that has not been witnessed in African history.

Such crowds have only been pulled by former president HE R.G Mugabe in 1980 after the white minority rule in Zimbabwe, followed by Nelson Mandela in post apartheid South Africa soon after his release from prison, according to the institute.

“ZEC Will Not Investigate Postal Voting Allegations Since Noone Has Complained”: Chigumba

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) boss Justice Priscilla Chigumba has revealed that the elections body was not investigating allegations that police officers were forced to cast their votes in front of their commanders arguing that no one had formally lodged a complaint on the issue.

Chigumba insisted that since nothing untoward happened at Ross  Camp in Bulawayo, her organisation would not investigate the matter.

In an interview with a local publication, Chigumba said:

“…The acting chief elections officer did not deny that postal voting was underway, but denied that the commission had set up polling stations for that purpose.

The law does not envisage the setting-up of polling stations for postal voting, but that applicants exercise their right in secrecy before sealing their ballots in provided envelopes and returning same to the chief elections officer by a prescribed date.

… The videos have already been dismissed as fake by the police and this information was also given to observers by Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza during the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s briefing to local and international observers on its state of preparedness.

No official complaint has also been received from aggrieved persons to date and, therefore, there is nothing to investigate at this moment.”-Standard.

 

Zanu PF Rubbishes Chamisa Rigging Claims

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
ruling Zanu PF has rubbished MDC Alliance leader
Nelson Chamisa’s claims that it is colluding with
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) in an
elaborate plot to rig next month’s elections using
Russian cyber experts.

Chamisa made the sensational claims on
Wednesday while addressing thousands of his
supporters after a demonstration meant to force
Zec to meet their demands for free, fair and
credible elections on July 30.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo reacted
angrily to the allegations calling them “childish”.

“He (Chamisa) must come forth with evidence to
back his claim. Can he identify the Russians he is
talking about? We are sick and tired of such
childish allegations that are meant for media
attention. If there is anything like that, why doesn’t
he prove it?”
Khaya Moyo said in an interview with
the Daily News on Sunday.

Chamisa said he was getting classified information
from Mnangagwa’s inner circle as well as elements
in the Zimbabwe National Army’s intelligence
department. He suggested the centre could no
longer hold in the ruling establishment, which he
said was leaking like a sieve.

“We know what they are doing and now they have
brought in about 64 Russians who are tampering
with the ballot papers and the voters’ roll,” Chamisa
claimed.

“If they are helping Zanu PF, then we have an issue
with them because we are a sovereign nation and
foreigners must not interfere with our internal
electoral processes,” he said.

This is not the first time that suspicions of foreign
actors in the country’s electoral processes have
been raised.
Zimbabwe is just the latest country to be
confronted with untested allegations of cyber
attacks relating to State-supported interference in
elections: ranging from email hacking and doxing,
in the 2016 US presidential election, to cyber
attacks on the Bundestag surrounding the 2015
German parliamentary elections, to dissemination of
“fake news” surrounding 2016 Italian referendum
votes.
International law gives States limited means by
which to respond to election interference.
Last month, exiled former Cabinet minister and
Zanu PF politburo member, Jonathan Moyo claimed
the ruling party had colluded with Zec to rig much-
awaited elections using hired Chinese experts.

Moyo, who fled the country at the height of a
military operation which facilitated former president
Robert Mugabe’s ouster last November, claimed
the rigging plot was on an industrial scale and was
going to be carried out in 14 different ways.

“Government has seconded to Zec a team of
Chinese BVR (Biometric Voter Registration) & cyber
experts from the People’s Liberation Army linked to
a top Chinese university.
“Their remit is to manipulate the voters’ roll through
shadowy & virtual polling stations and fake voters,”
he said in a post on his Twitter handle.

“The plot is to rig on an industrial scale. The rigging
is centred on (1) manipulation of the BVR voters’
roll; (2) manipulation of polling stations by Zec
technical staff from security organs and (3) army
intimidation of voters in villages,” Moyo, who once
served as government propagandist, said.

Zec is however, on record dismissing Moyo’s
claims as highly mischievous and claiming that the
elections body was independent from both Zanu PF
and government- Daily News.

WATCH: Mnangagwa Suddenly Wakes Up Wearing Grace Mugabe’s Regalia – WHAT’S GOING ON NOW?

By Own Correspondent | The same man who criticised former First Lady Grace Mugabe for using church podiums for politics, the very same reason he declared a coup on his boss, Robert Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, caused a scene at a vapositori church in Marange. This incident comes just 8 months after Mnangagwa wrote a strongly worded letter declaring while fleeing Zimbabwe, that he would return to lead and Grace Mugabe would be punished for abusing church platforms. Mnangagwa can be seen in the below fresh video declaring to a completely silent congregation: “Pamberi ne ZANU PF, pamberi ne ZANU PF! [NO ANSWER].”

After realising the lack of interest, he then continues to immediately announce, “we shall hand all of you t-shirts,” once again to a totally unresponsive church crowd. SEE THE BELOW FOOTAGE:

France Are The Champs!

By Terrence Mawawa| 1998 World Soccer Champions France have done it again!

The Blues beat Croatia 4-2 in a pulsating World Cup Final in Russia.

France dismissed a spirited Croatia to win the World Cup for the second time having won the trophy on home soil in 1998.

Real Madrid utility player Luka Modric and Barcelona’ s Ivan Raktic could not inspire Croatia to victory.

Thousands Brave Heavy Downpour To Attend Chamisa Rally

Terrence Mawawa

Despite the heavy downpour in Masvingo, thousands of MDC Alliance supporters and residents of the ancient city of Masvingo are flocking to the coalition’s star rally at Mucheke Stadium.

Residents of the ancient city have vowed to brave the heavy showers to meet the charismatic leader who will take on President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the July 30 polls.

Earlier today Chamisa addressed thousands of MDC Alliance supporters in Bikita District.

Thousands Brave Heavy Downpour To Attend Chamisa Rally

Nelson Chamisa

Terrence Mawawa

Despite the heavy downpour in Masvingo, thousands of MDC Alliance supporters and residents of the ancient city of Masvingo are flocking to the coalition’s star rally at Mucheke Stadium.

Residents of the ancient city have vowed to brave the heavy showers to meet the charismatic leader who will take on President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the July 30 polls.

Earlier today Chamisa addressed thousands of MDC Alliance supporters in Bikita District.

MDC Honours Slain Cadres

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa

Terrence Mawawa

Members of the Movement for Democratic Change’ s Veteran Activists Association yesterday honoured fallen cadres who were allegedly murdered by Zanu PF supporters in 2008.

Below is a statement written by MDC’ s Veteran Activists Association:

“Mashonaland Veteran Matamisa Silas’ grave has been rehabilitated.

The veterans have done it again, the construction and laying of tombstone on our veteran’s grave has been carried out successfully.

We applaud the veterans who have helped in cash or kind to support the noble exercise.

Chiwenga Says Mbare Will Get Flats With Swimming Pools

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga

VICE-President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday promised residents of Harare’s oldest suburb modern apartments with swimming pools as Zanu PF stepped up its campaign to wrestle control of the capital from the opposition.

Chiwenga told a campaign rally in Mbare that the dilapidated hostels in the poor neighbourhood would be transformed after the elections.

Zanu PF supporters, who first fought for T-shirts before Chiwenga arrived, cheered as the VP also promised that the entire infrastructure in Mbare would be modernised.

He said those that had relocated to affluent suburbs like Borrowdale would flock back to Mbare.

“We have a comprehensive master plan for the home industries and the Mbare hostels to the extent that wherever we reconstruct a block of flats, there will be swimming pools for children and kindergartens,” Chiwenga said.
“Mbare will be the first place that we are going to develop in Harare, and those that had relocated to Borrowdale and Mount Pleasant will come back to Mbare.”

Chiwenga blamed the MDC-T-run council for the poor state of Mbare. He said residents were staying in dilapidated buildings with broken windows, potholed roads, and dirty surroundings with uncollected litter because of the incompetence of the council.

“The [Zanu PF] Mbare National Assembly candidate Tendai Savanhu asked if I was aware of the conditions at the hostels and I told him that I have visited the place in disguise,” he claimed.

“After noticing the poor living conditions, we then came up with the master plan for Mbare and Harare.

“There are serious health issues like cholera and typhoid because of the MDC-T-led council.
“The water pipes and sewer reticulation systems are archaic and they failed to replace them.” -Standard

WHAT’S GOING ON NOW? – Did President Mnangagwa Actually Say That?

Did he really say that?

By Dorrothy Moyo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been slammed for belittling church folk yesterday when he blew “pamberi” slogans into their ears and at the same time announcing that he will give them t-shirts. Zimbabweans were yesterday enraged over the below incident in which Mnangagwa is heard screaming to vapositori, “pamberi ne ZANU PF, pamberi ne ZANU PF!  [THERE ARE T SHIRTS WHICH WE SHALL GIVE YOU]Kune ma t shirts atichakupayi!”

Political Commentator, Rvesayi Mutede said Mnangagwa has patronised the vapositori church members. She alleged that he is “not presidential material.” VIDEO:

Mnangagwa Confesses ZANU PF Rallies Strategy To VaPostori

President Emmerson Mnangagwa at VaPostori Shrine

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday admitted that Zanu PF was drawing huge crowds at rallies by bussing people, moving door-to-door and luring participants with T-shirts and other goodies.

Addressing members of the Noah Taguta-led Johane Marange apostolic church at Mafararikwa in Marange, Mnangagwa said he had never seen such a huge crowd gathered freely without being coerced or lured by goodies.

“I have never seen such a gathering in my entire life, a huge gathering of people who have freely come here on their own,” he said.

“When we hold our party rallies we normally mobilise people door-to-door, some come to receive T-shirts and so on, but you came freely, I am happy.

“As the church, you have a role to play in our nation building.”

The Zanu Pf presidential candidate has been visiting the apostolic sects, especially the Marange community. He was told by Taguta that he would win the elections on July 30.

“A lot of people yearn to have a prophet like Mutumwa Taguta in their midst, I am privileged to have been invited by him,” Mnangagwa said.

He promised to assist the church in improving its environment as well as other needs before he pleaded for them to pray for him and for peaceful elections.

Taguta described former president Robert Mugabe as Samson who allowed a Delilah (Grace) to overpower him resulting in his downfall.

In the build-up to the 2013 elections, Mugabe addressed the same gathering and was assured of an election victory by the same cleric.

Standard

“Ballot Paper Design Is Our Exclusive Right”: ZEC’s Priscilla Chigumba

ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba has refuted allegations that the design of the presidential ballot paper favours Zanu Pf’s Presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa revealing that the design of the ballot was the exclusive right of ZEC.

In an exclusive interview with a local publication, Justice Chigumba said the elections body decided not to use the traditional single column for all candidates, which would have resulted in Mnangagwa’s name appearing somewhere in the middle and opted to use two columns.

The first column of the presidential ballot has 14 candidates with Mnangagwa’ s name appearing at the top of the second column which has only 9 candidates.

Chigumba insisted that ZEC had followed the letter of the law and reminded people that the design of the ballot paper is the exclusive right of the elections body.

Said Chigumba:

“The allegations are regrettable and the commission, as already explained to stakeholders including observers, it did consider all options in coming up with the design of the ballot paper.

The proposed one column design by a concerned stakeholder would have resulted in a long ballot paper of A3 plus in size and required double the amount of paper. It would also have been difficult for the folded ballot paper to fit in the aperture of the ballot box because of its small size.

Further, that would have meant more ballot boxes would fill up quickly leading to more being required for procurement. The cost-benefit analysis revealed that the option would have required not only an increase in ballot paper but also an increase in the production time plus number of ballot boxes to be procured.

The two-column design is the design that has been adopted by the commission for all ballot papers with candidates in excess of 14 people regardless of the type of election, using its discretion after weighing the available options. The candidates’ names will still retain the alphabetical order of surnames as provided for in section 3 (11) (b) (i) of the Electoral Regulations SI21 of 2005.

However, stakeholders are reminded that issues to do with the design and printing of ballot paper remain the exclusive right of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of Section 239 (g) of the constitution of Zimbabwe.”- The Standard.

Chigumba Claims ZEC Has Not Done Anything Wrong, Full Interview.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s handling of the July 30 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections came under sharp scrutiny last week after the opposition MDC Alliance claimed to have discovered police officers clandestinely voting at a camp in Bulawayo.

ZEC acting chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana sparked controversy when he told the state-controlled Herald’s online edition reports of postal voting being undertaken at Ross Camp were “hogwash”.

The story was later removed from the publication’s website after police confirmed that voting was underway.

However, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba insisted that nothing untoward happened at Ross Camp.

Chigumba (PC) told Standard Newdpaper senior reporter Xolisani Ncube (XN) that her commission would not investigate the allegations that police officers were forced to cast their ballots in front of their commanders because no one had lodged a complaint.

She also argued that her critics were raising “sensationalised allegations and extra-judicial requests presented as legal rights contrary to the legal framework that governs elections”.

Below are excerpts from the interview.

XN: Last Thursday there was confusion after Zec acting chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana issued a statement denying that postal voting was underway while police confirmed that officers were voting at Ross Camp in Bulawayo. What caused this confusion if Zec is solely in charge of the process?

PC: The acting chief elections officer did not deny that postal voting was underway, but denied that the commission had set up polling stations for that purpose.

The law does not envisage the setting-up of polling stations for postal voting, but that applicants exercise their right in secrecy before sealing their ballots in provided envelopes and returning same to the chief elections officer by a prescribed date.

The true version of his response is as in the Herald of July 13, 2018.

XN: Why was the postal voting process not advertised like in previous elections?

PC: There is no provision in the law that requires the commission to publish the postal voting process and the commission has placed all issues to do with the postal voting process in the public domain through disclosure of entities and statistics of those who were participating to all stakeholders.

XN: Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Senegal Trudy Stevenson tweeted last week that her embassy had not received postal ballots. What assurances can you give that Zec is abiding by the law in handling the postal votes?

PC: As far as Zec is concerned, it has despatched the postal ballots for successful applicants to the relevant ministry and it is now up to the ministry to forward the same for them to exercise their right.

It is also incumbent upon the ministry to meet the deadlines set by the law.

XN: There are videos circulating on social media showing police officers voting in front of their superiors. Is that how the voting process is supposed to be handled? Is Zec going to investigate claims by some police officers that they were forced to vote under the watch of their superiors?

PC: The videos have already been dismissed as fake by the police and this information was also given to observers by Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza during the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s briefing to local and international observers on its state of preparedness.

No official complaint has also been received from aggrieved persons to date and, therefore, there is nothing to investigate at this moment.

XN: How many ballots have you despatched through the postal voting system and what measures are in place to ensure the system is not manipulated?

PC: The commission received a total of 7 646 applications for postal voting. Out of that figure, 185 were disqualified for the reason of not being on the voters roll.

The commission is, therefore, processing a total of 7 461 successful applications.

The information on the postal ballot processing is available for the public to inspect and verify, so the issue of manipulation does not arise.

XN: What is your reaction to allegations that the presidential election ballot paper has been designed to favour President Emmerson Mnangagwa?

PC: The allegations are regrettable and the commission, as already explained to stakeholders including observers, it did consider all options in coming up with the design of the ballot paper.

The proposed one column design by a concerned stakeholder would have resulted in a long ballot paper of A3 plus in size and required double the amount of paper.

It would also have been difficult for the folded ballot paper to fit in the aperture of the ballot box because of its small size.

Further, that would have meant more ballot boxes would fill up quickly leading to more being required for procurement.

The cost-benefit analysis revealed that the option would have required not only an increase in ballot paper, but also an increase in the production time plus number of ballot boxes to be procured.

The two-column design is the design that has been adopted by the commission for all ballot papers with candidates in excess of 14 people regardless of the type of election, using its discretion after weighing the available options.

The candidates’ names will still retain the alphabetical order of surnames as provided for in section 3 (11) (b) (i) of the Electoral Regulations SI21 of 2005.

However, stakeholders are reminded that issues to do with the design and printing of ballot paper remain the exclusive right of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of Section 239 (g) of the constitution of Zimbabwe.

XN: Why is Zec refusing to accede to demands by the opposition to inspect the ballot paper printing process?

PC: This is not a legal requirement and Zec in attempting to build consensus invited political parties to observe the printing of the ballot on the 12th of June 2018, but which gesture was abandoned following unlawful and unreasonable demands by some stakeholders on the process.

However, interested stakeholders were provided with the sample ballot paper for them to assess the quality and for comparison on election day if they had doubts.

XN: Do you think Zimbabweans still have confidence in Zec following last week’s incidents that included a massive demonstration against the way you are handling the pre-election period?

PC: That the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission may not know, but it is convinced that it has not broken any law.

Moreover, the demonstration and complaints were from a single stakeholder to the electoral process.

XN: Independent observers have been picking serious mistakes on the voters roll since it was made public. What assurance can you give Zimbabweans that these are genuine mistakes and not deliberate attempts to rig the elections?

PC: The problem has been that the media has also failed to uphold the right to reply.

It has gone on to publish falsehoods using sensationalised headlines without seeking the view or explanation of the commission on issues raised on the voters roll.

However, the commission has already issued public notices in the print media explaining some of the misrepresentations made.

The voters roll produced by the commission is a good product owing to the technology used to weed out duplicates and to avoid doubling registration.

XN: What is Zec doing to regain public trust that it will be impartial in running the elections?

PC: The commission will continue adhering to the law and providing the electorate with the correct information through its voter education programmes and responses to issues raised.

XN: What is your reaction to reports that there are polling stations with only two voters?

PC: That is also false. The commission has since published the polling stations for the forthcoming elections.

There was confusion by stakeholders between registration/inspection centres and polling stations.

XN: What are some of the challenges you have encountered since your appointment as Zec chairperson and did you anticipate them prior to accepting the appointment?

PC: The challenges are dealing with sensationalised allegations and extra-judicial requests presented as legal rights contrary to the legal framework that governs elections.

Yes, I did anticipate them because Zimbabwe is a country under transition and some habits by stakeholders will need time for stakeholders to discard them.

The Standard.

ZEC Reports MDC Alliance Threats To The Police

ZEC Chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has revealed that following threats against its staff by opposition political parties, the elections body has lodged formal reports to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure the security of its staff.

ZEC deputy chair Commissioner Emmanuel Magade said this during a meeting with election observers in Harare recently.

Said Commissioner Magade:

“I can confirm that threats have been issued to ZEC staff, some of it is captured on camera.

Some unkind and uncharitable things have been said about us. We find it totally, totally dispeakable and unconscionable and deplorable.

What we have done as law-abiding citizens is to refer those threats to the police and other law enforcement agencies.”

He refuted allegations that ZEC was a biased umpire in the Electoral process arguing that contrary to this belief, the elections body was conducting itself professionally without bias.

“Our wish and our ambition is that we should have an incident-free election. It is very regrettable that people like us who are supposed to be neutral umpires (are subjected to this).

We are not in the hands of anybody. We are not in the pockets of anybody; we belong to the people of Zimbabwe. So please help us to make the process straightforward and something that we can all be proud of.

Come July 30, we want to come up with a product that is fit for the purpose. These threats will not deter us in our endeavor to deliver free, verifiable and credible elections and once again I find the threats totally deplorable and in fact diabolical,” he said.

Opposition MDC Alliance, a coalition of 7 political parties last week marched to the ZEC and handed a petition with a raft of demands some of which included that ZEC should allow political parties to view the printing of the ballot papers, that ZEC avails an auditable voters roll with pictures and that the organisation should conduct itself professionally.

However, the MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa and other top stalwarts could not hand over their petition as the ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba was nowhere to be found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Itai Dzamara Kidnapper Revealed?

Ambassador Mike Sango

Self-exiled former minister Jonathan Moyo has spilled the beans on the mystery of Itai Dzamara’s abduction and his disappearance.

“In the spirit & letter of the new Constitution & the Second Republic that is crying for a new generation of leadership with a new ethos, I wish to disclose privileged information I got about what happened to Itai Dzamara & why. I share this as a potentially useful detail!” he tweeted

I got to know from a high level source with access to the information; that ZDF’s Military Intelligence Department (MID) abducted Itai Dzamara & subjected him to extreme torture like in the gukurahundi & State of Emergency days. Mnangagwa, Chiwenga & Mohadi know about this!

The MID officer who oversaw this is Brigadier General Mike Sango who was then CID & is now Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Russia. Why did they do this? To build a case against President Mugabe; as they did on 7 March 2007 with their savage attack on the late Morgan Tsvangirai!

The government is yet to respond to Prof Moyo’s claims.

Chamisa Dumps “Tsvangirai” Permanently

Nelson Chamisa

MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has now publicly disowned the MDC-T name saying his party would not be using the name ever again.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at Mutasa on Saturday , Chamisa warned his supporters not to be confused by the name and symbols on the ballot paper saying that his party had dumped the name which is being used by a rival Thokozani Khupe MDC faction in the election.

It is unclear what name Chamisa’s party will adopt after the election.

“Be careful during voting, there is now an MDC tsotsi (crook) which is using the MDC-T symbols. It now stands for MDC tsotsi… MDC thokoloshi…We will never use this name again,” Chamisa said.

The name previously referred to MDC Tsvangirai after the iconic late founding MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai. It was adopted in the run up to the 2008 elections after the party split in 2005.

Turning to the ongoing storm over postal ballots, Chamisa said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) had completely lost credibility in delivering a free and fair election.

He said the MDC Alliance will be pushing for Zec’s suspension from conducting the elections.

“We failed to agree with Zec and we now want Zec to be excused and have another body to referee the election,” Chamisa said,  adding he would take the grievance to regional and international bodies like (Southern Africa Development Committee) Sadc and African Union (AU).

He said it was embarrassing that the country was still bickering over electoral rights four decades after independence which should have brought full voting rights to Zimbabweans.

“What did (Josiah) Tongogara and (Herbert) Chitepo die for when we are still arguing over a vote? …it means someone slept on duty. It means Zanu-PF only took over the position that was previously occupied by the Rhodesian Front without any reforms,” Chamisa charged.

He said rigging was going to be difficult for Zanu-PF in this election as he was being alerted of  any suspicious manoeuvres to subvert the electoral process.

Among the problems they are having with Zec is its alleged failure to order ZBC to report impartially.

“Our other problem is Zec’s failure to rein-in ZBC. We are concerned because it remains so partisan. It even acts on behalf of Zanu-PF. We are concerned at the direction it is on. It’s a public broadcaster but reports like it belongs to Zanu-PF,” Chamisa said, before threatening legal action on it to ensure that it reports impartially.

“We want to task, even taking them to court,” Chamisa said.

Daily News

Professionals Tell ZEC To Postpone Elections To Sort Out Irregularities

Zimbabweans voting

By the Zimbabwe Election Watch|The past few days have been marked by electoral scandals of enormous proportions. ZANU-PF apparently has access to registered voters’ private data, specifically mobile numbers which it is using to solicit for votes for its Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government candidates. Not only is the issue of privacy at stake here. With a party whose 38-year-old rule has depended on violence, the mere receipt of a message from ZANU-PF is enough to strike serious fear in an ordinary Zimbabwean citizen.

The second scandal is the alleged duplicate entries in the voters roll. There is to us, more than prima facie evidence that the voters roll is not only in shambles but is an outright fraud. The nation cannot go to the polls in the current state of affairs.

With regard to the SMS messages, there is need for an independent region-led investigation into how ZANU-PF was able to access voters’ private data; and all those responsible for this scandal, including ZEC and ZANU-PF, should make an unreserved apology to those it targeted for solicitation and to the generality of Zimbabweans. They also need to publicly take steps to correct this fraud. This would help restore confidence in the elections, or what is left of it.

With regard to the voters roll, the elections need to be postponed to enable ZEC to remove duplicate and fraudulent entries. If they do not have the capacity to do so as is currently evident, they can call upon international expertise to assist them in the cleaning of the voters roll. But we believe that the duplicate voters so far unearthed by some of the stakeholders are just a tip of the iceberg. Our hunch, based on rational deduction, is that there are many more ghost citizens who have recently been added to the national civil registry enabling them to get enrolled on the voters roll with new identities to enable them to vote several times. An audit of the national civil registry is also necessary in order to flag out suspicious recent registrations.

It is always tempting for opposition parties and Civil Society Organisations to rush to the courts for redress. We strongly advise against the litigation route as it is heavily booby trapped. The small victories on the abuse of school children and on the impartiality of traditional leaders should never lead stakeholders to believe that much has changed in our judiciary. We already see worrying trends reminiscent of 2013 and before: Urgent matters with a bearing on elections are referred to trial thereby defeating all the urgency in them; and from the shadows, obscure individuals are suddenly emerging and approaching the courts to protest against the use of their faces on the voters roll, feeding into the argument that ZEC has used before when pressed for the release of the voters roll that includes voters’ photographs.

We know all too well how in 2013 Zimbabweans were stampeded into an election by an individual emerging from the shadows and screaming for the holding of the elections without delay. We also know how the Constitutional Court was so eager to hear that individual and to sympathize with them and to declare their fear as well founded. Yet the same judges had in the past refused or delayed the opposition judicial remedies in cases where their rights had been brazenly violated. Unfortunately that choreographed charade involving ZANU-PF, ZEC and sponsored litigants appears to be repeating itself yet again.

So our advice to the opposition parties and CSOs is to ignore the litigation process for once and instead approach the highest institutions of the AU and SADC (not just the AU and SADC election observer missions on the ground) and implore them to prevail over all relevant institutions to have the elections postponed so that the above matters, in addition to the many others that have so far been raised by stakeholders, are attended to and satisfactorily addressed. Of course, the demonstrations should continue and Mrs Justice Chigumba and her crew should not be given any rest until all the issues have been addressed to the satisfaction of everyone.

And while we are at that, we remind all that the ink is also part of the rigging kit. Its producers, quality, and chain of custody must also be matters that are subject to utmost transparency.

We continue to call upon anyone with evidence or suspicions of electoral malpractice, fraud and intimidation to contact us on using our Facebook Page facebook.com/ZimWatch18 or Twitter on Twitter.com/ZimWatch18.

We are a lean team of five that consists of renowned electoral administration experts, lawyers, journalists and new media specialists, and we guarantee that we will follow up on your reports and safeguard your identity if you so wish. We are also working on coming up with attractive incentives for whistle blowers. That would however depend on whether there are willing cooperating partners who are willing to fund and manage our whistle blowing programme. We know there are many good men and women in many of our public institutions who are forced to do things that are unlawful and against their conscience. We want to assist such people to blow the whistle and to do so knowing that their security and wellbeing are guaranteed. We shall keep you posted once there are any positive developments in this regard.

The Zimbabwe Election Watch 2018 (ZimWatch18) is a consortium of highly engaged professionals working together to influence the credibility of the 2018 Zimbabwean elections. You can follow @ZimWatch18 on Twitter and @ZimWatch18 on Facebook.