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Veterans call on colleagues and army commanders to respect poll results
Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP)
April 08, 2008

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3876&cat=4

We the undersigned senior war veterans, former senior commanders and members of the ZANLA and ZIPA High Command, founder members and members of the Board of Trustees of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP), wish to express our feelings on the current constitutional crisis bedeviling the country.

We have watched with anxiety, apprehension, dismay and disbelief the comical circus surrounding the announcement of the results of the just ended harmonised elections held on 29 March 2006 which has left the country in limbo.

Zimbabwe has no legislature at present as the new members of the House of Parliament and Senate has not been sworn in whereas the old ZANU PF dominated Parliament was dissolved on the eve of the Election on 28th March
2008 and the country has no legitimate head of state and government, hence the crisis

The current crisis has been precipitated by :-

1. The inexplicable failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce expeditiously the results of the just ended harmonised elections in particular the outcome of the presidential election as required by law. It is the sovereign right of the people of Zimbabwe to be informed of the outcome of the election without having to beg for them or to resort to legal recourse to attain them. No one has the power to deny the people of Zimbabwe their sovereign right to the result of their election.
2. The failure by the ZANU PF party and government to accept and admit defeat in the election is a flagrant flouting and violation of the popular will of the Zimbabwean electorate. It was Robert Mugabe himself who unilaterally called for elections on 29 March against wise counsel from President Mbeki of South Africa and protestations from both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change MDC hoping to catch the opposition flat footed. Now the stratagem has backfired and the people of Zimbabwe have spoken with a powerful voice saying NO! to Mugabe and his party. Robert Mugabe is on record as saying on Election Day that "when people reject you it is time to quit politics". He should do the honourable thing and eat humble pie and leave the people of Zimbabwe in peace. He is also on record as saying that it is only the opposition that alleges rigging in Zimbabwean elections. Alas in a twist of irony, it is Mugabe who is now accusing his very own Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) of manipulating the election in favour of the MDC. Is this an inadvertent admission that ZANU PF has now indeed become the opposition in Zimbabwean politics?

Zimbabwe now finds itself at the crossroads. The core objective of the national liberation struggle was self determination which found expression in freedom and democracy as the ideals of the struggle, for which many sacrificed their lives, liberty and depravation. It is these same noble ideals that stand threatened from Robert Mugabe and his henchmen. We of the Zimbabwe Liberation Veterans Forum stand ready to side with the people of Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), civil society and all progressive forces in Zimbabwe in defence of these ideals. We are determined to send the tyrants packing, like their predecessors, to the dustbin of history where they belong.

President Mbeki of South Africa, SADC and the African Union are on record as saying that it is up to the people of Zimbabwe to resolve the political crisis bedeviling their country. The people of Zimbabwe have overwhelmingly delivered a resounding NO to Robert Mugabe' tyranny and who is Mugabe to impose his will against the Voice of the People of Zimbabwe? Surely what more, in the circumstances, should the peace loving people of Zimbabwe be expected to do? It is the highest time the SADC Heads of State, the African Union and the international community raised their voice in support of the popular will of the people of Zimbabwe. The ball is entirely in their court and they cannot escape responsibility for any consequences arising from the constitutional crisis through their inaction. Zimbabwe is not Mugabe's farm over which he holds title deeds nor did he single handedly liberate this country.

ZANU PF has now gone into a frenzy talking of a presidential run off election. We take it to be irresponsible and the height of cynicism by those who should know better to talk of an election re-run in the absence of an official announcement of the outcome of the presidential election. Should the election result point to a re-run of the presidential election, we demand that members of Parliament and the Senate be sworn in immediately to oversee the re-run, as the House of Assembly will have the casting vote in the event of a tie in the outcome. Furthermore, the re-run should be conducted within twenty one days of the date of election as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

We note with concern the strange and discordant noises coming from paid state agents and rogue elements purporting to be speaking on behalf of former liberation war fighters. These sycophantic and misguided political misfits have no statutory role in Zimbabwe and no say whatsoever in the conduct of elections. Their statements and noises should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. We also note with concern the frantic mobilization of the forces of reaction to descend on the people as punishment for voting Mugabe and his ZANU PF out of power. We call on the people to remain calm, vigilant and steadfast in defence of their vote and their sovereign right to choose their leaders democratically.

Finally, we call on all genuine and self respecting former liberation war fighters and on all the commanders of the various state security arms to uphold their constitutional duty to respect the outcome of the election as the genuine sovereign expression of the popular will of Zimbabweans. To act otherwise would be a treasonable offence for which they will stand accountable and answerable jointly and severally.

Happyson Nenji (Webster Gwauya) - ZLP Trust Board Chairperson

Wilfred Mhanda (Dzinashe Machingura) ZLP Board Trust Secretary

Bernard Manyadza (Parker Chipoera) ZLP Board Treasurer

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