Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Selective application of the law: A nemesis of the inclusive government
Youth Forum
March 01, 2010

The continued selective application of the law by the current government has become its main nemesis. Continued bickering and fight for political space by the parties in government has become their main preoccupation, overshadowing and stalling the various achievements and targets that still stand before the inclusive government. However, as it stands, progress towards democratic reform of state institutions and actors has since stalled, severely undermining the capacity of the government to achieve some of its most crucial mandates - to facilitate the writing of a new democratic and people-driven constitution and creating a conducive environment for the holding of free and fair elections under the new constitution.

The recent demonstration by Zanu PF youths in Harare over issues of sanctions and pirate radio stations goes a long way in proving this point. The youths hurled insults at the Prime Minister, ostensibly for his failure to call for the lifting of targeted sanctions and closure of pirate radio stations. During their march through town and towards the Zanu PF headquarters, they were seen harassing and beating up several people, including a journalist. But, have we not heard of numerous incidences before where people have been arrested even in commuter omnibuses on allegations of insulting the president or his office. It was disheartening to note that all this was happening in full view of some police officers present during the demonstration.

It is becoming apparent that for as long as there is no shift towards genuine democratic reforms by the current dispensation, then expecting a new democratic and people-driven constitution and an environment conducive for free and fair elections from the current government would be like trying to squeeze water out of a rock. The stalling of the constitutional review process because of various man-made reasons gives a measure of how much some people in government are bent on perpetuating the current political order, or the preceding one thereof. For as long as the politicians continue to dictate the manner and pace at which reform is achieved, then surely nothing much can come out of this inclusive arrangement. For as long as the people continue to play second fiddle in decision and policy making, then ultimately the move towards a democratic society in Zimbabwe will be futile. If Zanu PF or any other party in government has the tenacity to give ultimatums to their partners, then is there really any government to talk about?

The MDC should not be losing focus on the crucial need for them to ensure that a respectable degree of progress towards reform of state institutions and actors is achieved. It would be naïve for them to be calling for elections with the current status of democratic institutions of the state. For as long as state actors and institutions are not de-politicized, even the best constitution in the world will not produce an environment conducive for free and fair elections, or even guarantee them an electoral victory. We continue to call upon progressive elements in government to prioritize the de-politicization of all state institutions and actors. We should move away from a system whereby the police continue to be used by Zanu PF to harass their MDC counterparts in government or their supporters. State parastatals should not be left to wanton looting by people with political connections pursuing political ambitions. As a youth formation, we continue to condemn in the strongest sense the apparent manipulation of young people to achieve political ends that are purely partisan and detrimental to democratic reform in Zimbabwe, as happened during the demonstration last week. We also continue to urge all progressive forces in Zimbabwe, particularly the youth to stand guard and defend the democratic space attained thus far. Let us not let politicians negate the gains of the struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe of the past decade and beyond.

Media plurality is a pre-requisite for a democratic and open society

Visit the Youth Forum fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP