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ZANU-PF intensifies rigging
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
February 19 , 2008

The NCA notes with sadness that the ruling party has suspended all political rallies in claiming that the prevailing political climate was not conducive for such meetings. In the past few weeks ZANU PF has been facing serious internal rifts which saw some party cadres being hospitalized following violent clashes after primary elections marred in violence and controversy.

The NCA also notes that this violence has been occurring among the ruling party only and it has not been spilling over to other political formations hence any serious threats that would amount to halting rallies for all political formations.

The violence which has been going on in the ruling party shows very well how flawed the election process is in Zimbabwe, especially considering that up to this point close to ten Zimbabweans have already been killed in election oriented violence.

The NCA calls on the government to be impartial when making decisions on which regions to ban rallies. It's alarming that violent torn regions like Bindura and Norton have faced violence without threats of banned rallies because of being a ZANU PF stronghold.

As the NCA we strongly believe that leading to elections people should be allowed to freely campaign throughout the country without any restrictions.

The police force and military force were need be should protect citizens from violent activities and not play a role in perpetrating violence. Barring of rallies without necessarily dealing with violent elements will not address the problem.

Freedom of associations, speech, gathering and expression should be accorded to all. The NCA notes that the conditions for a free and fair election are not there already and as such the government should not worsen the situation by closing campaigning space for opponents as it is clear that the government itself will be campaigning using state media.

The NCA also notes that the banning of rallies in Masvingo is a gimmick to bar the opposition from campaigning in that province as this time the opposition stands a higher chance of snatching a victory due to disgruntlement and the run away inflation.

The NCA therefore calls the government of Zimbabwe facing yet another flawed pre-electoral environment to revisit its move regarding election rallies in Masvingo so as to retain its already battered image as President Mugabe and party are already accused of intimidating voters and insisting on using voters' roll in shambles.

NCA wants to make it clear that until a new constitution which guarantees people's freedoms is in place, Zimbabwe will never have a free and fair election as any government that's gets in power with current constitution will be an illegitimate government.

Zimbabwe government should implement SADC protocols on elections if it wants the coming elections to be regionally and internationally recognized and put in a constitution that will give provisions for that free and fair environment.

Among others the government should immediately stop promoting partisan coverage of pre-election period in the state media and become balanced, fair and objective.

The government over the years has used public media to propagate its propaganda messages whilst undermining political opponents as puppets of the West. We call on the government to respect the people of Masvingo and Zimbabwe at large by giving them their right to freely campaign, and freedom of speech and expression.

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