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Elections: Do or die for Zimbabwe
Tawanda Kadungure, The Zimbabwe Gazette
February 15, 2008

http://www.zimbabwegazette.com/the-news/politics/elections:-do-or-die-for-zimbabwe-20080215248.html

Never before has it been heard that parents force their children to go and register to vote but this has become the case this year as people get ready for the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Most youngsters I talk with are saying that their parents are giving them orders to get registered to vote as the state of the nation now is in turmoil.

"We can not say we are being forced but they are encouraging us to register for the forthcoming elections," said one young lady from a group I was interviewing in Harare. Most were saying their parents were reminding them on a daily basis that they should get registered to vote.

"My father told everybody at home to go and get registered. He said that our vote counted so much in bringing change in Zimbabwe. Though it is never something that I have prioritised to do ever since I became of voting age, this year I had to do it as these elections seem to mean a lot to me as well as all people," said another young lady in Westgate. The elections seem to be the turning point for Zimbabweans as much confidence in a better Zimbabwe has been hinched on them. Many tactics were tried to incite the Zimbabwean masses into becoming riotous and remove the powers that be from power but Zimbabweans being peaceful as they are could not do this.

It clearly shows that the time they have been waiting for has finally come and every vote is going to count in the March elections. "It is your life you youngsters and as long as you don't contribute in this years elections, it is your future that is in shambles. We are old and waiting to die but you still have a long way to go that is why we are encouraging and not forcing you to get registered and vote in the coming elections," said one parent I talked to.

Zvikomborero, a college graduate from Chitungwiza had this to say when we asked her to comment on the forthcoming elections, "At my age surely I can not be moaning of failing to get employment because the current government has failed to create a vibrant economy. I registered to vote and these elections mean a lot to me because am so torn apart with what is happening to this my only home and nation." The emotions behind these words could be felt by this writer as the young lady tried to express her disappointment in the authorities running the country.

All hope is on the elections now and it is now or worse for most Zimbabweans. There is fear though that nomatter how many people in the urban settings get registered to vote; they will never out number those in the rural areas. Another worrying factor is that those opposing the ruling party are not allowed to go and campaign in the rural areas making it only but a dream for them to have the vote of the man in the rural areas. "The problem is that Zanu PF has made rural areas their safe zones and no one is allowed to go and campaign there if they are from the opposition and these rural people are told that if they vote for any opposition, they will be seen with cameras and be dealt with after the elections. With this type of poison being injected in the minds of highly illiterate people, it poses a problem even if Mugabe is to be beaten in the towns," said one activist who refused to be published.

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