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SADC pushes for democratic electoral process
Njabulo Ncube,The Financial Gazette
July 22, 2004

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/fingaz/2004/July/July22/6041.shtml

THE world is watching events unfolding in Zimbabwe. But it is the political reforms or lack thereof that is attracting priority attention. And it is not difficult to see why.  

In less than a year, the country is facing what could be another deeply divisive parliamentary election pitting the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling ZANU PF.

And when it comes to elections, be they parliamentary, presidential or local authorities, Zimbabwe, which stands accused of a serious democratic deficit, has emerged as a problem child.

Not only is the incumbent government accused of rigging elections and stifling democratic space, but also of voter intimidation and systematic bullying of the opposition, among others.

It is against this background that Zimbabwe has been widely criticised for not observing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) norms on free and fair elections and why member states, notably South Africa, are exerting pressure on Harare to completely overhaul the country’s archaic and undemocratic electoral process.

Heads of state from the 14 SADC member states of Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, the Seychelles, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge on Port Louis, Mauritius, next month to possibly adopt proposed new principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.

According to commentators, heads of state crafted the new sets of proposals with Zimbabwe, which most southern nations view as having the worst electoral procedures, in mind. They argue that the proposed electoral standards were meant to nudge President Robert Mugabe towards comprehensive electoral reforms.

It however remains to be seen if President Mugabe’s government, accused of using unorthodox methods in the country’s election process to keep out the opposition, will support and subsequently proceed to fully endorse the proposed tightened rules.

Among other issues, the proposals demand that opposition parties must have access to the state media. Zimbabwe is accused of imposing new limitations and controls on information and communication at a time access to information and the right to free expression are widely considered a cornerstone of the global efforts to build democracy.

So, will Zimbabwe knuckle down to the Sadc demands and fulfil this requirement?

Heneri Dzinotyiwei, a political commentator who teaches mathematics at the University of Zimbabwe, was highly sceptical.

Dzinotyiwei, who had a failed flirtation with opposition politics in Zimbabwe, said the implementation of some of the principles in Zimbabwe would prove difficult considering the political polarisation and animosity between the ruling ZANU PF and the MDC.

"The implementation of these (principles and guidelines) will be difficult. I don’t foresee opposition politicians being given positive coverage overnight," he said.

"The proposals sound good, but we are waiting to see if the government accepts and endorses them in Mauritius. Will it implement them? We also want to see if the government will remove the laws that impinge on the enjoyment of democracy," he said.

Dzinotyiwei added: "The member states want to create standard procedures of holding elections by members states. This will ensure a standard process of evaluating the elections so that the outcome is accepted by all member states. We welcome this," he said.

Other political commentators said that if President Mugabe’s government endorses the new set of proposals deemed necessary in holding democratic elections, Harare must then proceed to repeal a series of repressive laws.

They said the government should specifically repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Broadcasting Services Act (BAS), and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

They were agreed that the three pieces of legislation must be annulled the moment President Mugabe’s government puts its signature on the proposals in Mauritius between August 9 and 17 2004. There was also a general consensus by the analysts that the use of presidential powers in matters pertaining to elections, as has been the norm in Zimbabwe, should be curtailed.

"It remains to be seen if the regime will accept these principles but if it (government) does then it must proceed to get rid of AIPPA and BSA, the laws that perpetuate the ZBC’s monopoly, as well as POSA," said Professor Alphas Mukonoweshuro, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe who also doubles up as adviser to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"No legislation that impinges on the citizens’ right to association, freedom of expression and assembly should be left in place if this regime finally decides to accept the proposed principles being put forward to the SADC head of states," added Mukonoweshuro.

The proposed principles include the full participation of citizens in the political process, freedom of association, political tolerance and equal opportunities for opposition political parties to exercise the right to vote and be voted for.

The analysts said most conditions being proposed were non-existent in Zimbabwe and it was time SADC seriously engaged President Mugabe and his ruling party to at least create minimum conditions for the staging of free and fair polls next year.

Mukonoweshuro said: "Democratic space must be opened to all citizens of this country the moment the regime endorses these principles. The measures are meant to give equal opportunities to all interested parties in the elections and in Zimbabwe this is not the case. AIPPA and the broadcasting law (Broadcasting Services Act) must be repealed, and so should POSA. Churches and civic organisations must also be allowed to operate freely and engage in voter education. There should be no need by citizens of Zimbabwe to write to the police seeking authority to hold meetings."

The need for an up-to-date voters’ roll and an independent electoral body is also emphasised in the proposals expected to be adopted by the SADC head of states.

The proposals, which came against the background of failed attempts by regional leaders, specifically South African President Thabo Mbeki ‘s quiet diplomacy, to solve Harare’s problems, also advocate the use of translucent ballot boxes and that voting be conducted in one day, among other conditions necessary in the conduct of free and fair elections.

As if to placate other SADC heads of state in the run-up to the Mauritius summit, President Mugabe and his Cabinet recently proposed what critics view as cosmetic changes to the country’s electoral laws, which the opposition is adamant still favour the ruling ZANU PF, which has been in power since independence in 1980.

Questions already abound whether Harare will wholly embrace the revised set of proposals and, if not, whether President Mugabe, clearly under immense regional pressure to talk to the MDC, will pull Zimbabwe out of SADC if the veteran politician fails to have his way.

Reginald Matchaba-Hove, chairman of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said he expected President Mugabe’s government to endorse and accept the proposals.

"The principles being pushed by SADC are welcome and we hope something positive will come out of these efforts. We should not just dismiss them but keep our fingers crossed that the at least democracy returns to Zimbabwe," said Matchaba-Hove.

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