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Those of us in the diaspora demand our vote
Chris Chogugudza,The Financial Gazette
September 16, 2004

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/fingaz/2004/September/September16/6537.shtml

Editor - I note with utter dismay that the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has decided to pull out of polls at a time when most of us, especially in the diaspora, were bracing for a showdown with Zanu PF in the forthcoming general election.

The decision seems to have been prematurely and impulsively taken without considering that elections are the only suitable chance to reclaim the people’s mandate from the increasingly moribund Zanu PF regime.

In my view, the regime has reluctantly accepted that it is no longer a government in power but one in office.

With regard to the MDC’s decision, I wish to make it abundantly clear that the old unionist concept of boycotting elections, while it is the easiest option, does not necessarily work all times.

Boycotting elections is like playing into the hands of the regime: the government expects it to happen and is prepared for it.

The last time the MDC threatened to boycott elections the international community was on its side. I doubt very much that this time round the party will get the same sympathy, especially from the United Kingdom and America.

The British will be holding elections in May or June 2005 and all their political energies will be focused on this issue. The Zimbabwe democracy issue is way down on their agenda.

The Americans are preparing for an all-important election and are concentrating on that and whoever wins the poll will be trying to consolidate his position by the time Zimbabwe votes, and Zanu PF knows that.

Issues of international terrorism, the Sudan problem and Iraq seem to be more important to the Americans and British today than the death of democracy and political sanity in impoverished Zimbabwe.

After the 2000 and 2002 elections in Zimbabwe, the Americans and the British said they would not recognise the results. A lot of us thought this meant either a downgrading or withdrawal of diplomatic representation in Zimbabwe as a sign they were not happy with Zanu PF. But that never happened.

A few months down the line, the British and American governments sent new diplomats to Zimbabwe, a sign of some confidence in the regime. And where did this leave the MDC? In limbo.

The Americans now talk of regime restoration in Zimbabwe instead of the regime change rhetoric of the year 2000. Just recently, American foreign affairs supremo Collin Powell was quoted advising the new American ambassador to Harare to fight for restoration of the rule of law — and that was that.

This goes to teach opposition politicians in Zimbabwe never to bank on Western support but to capitalise on domestic backing. The West was almost at a point of embracing Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha by the time he died.

Abacha ‘s regime had killed Ken Saro Wiwa and nothing happened to the Abuja government except the so-called imposition of sanctions by individual governments in the West. These targeted sanctions do not work. If anything, they harm citizens more than the politicians.

The MDC needs to seriously revisit its election policy because its adversary is not looking back and many of the old-style African leaders are backing the regime. Foregoing elections, therefore, should never be an option. If the MDC is not serious, it will be relegated to an eternal opposition party, never ascending to power.

I acknowledge that it is the MDC which has forced Zanu PF to accept the Southern African Development Community’s elections protocol. The MDC should build on this major breakthrough and push for more changes, such as the disbanding of militias, dropping of treason charges against party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, an end to government monopoly on the public media before, during and after elections as well as forcing the regime to accept postal international votes and and international election observers.

We in the diaspora feel very much alienated by not being allowed to exercise our votes and we need the MDC to fight for this right, which belongs to us.

It is true to say if the three to four million Zimbabweans living abroad are allowed to vote, Zanu PF will lose the 2005 election.

Given the current situation in Zimbabwe, the MDC is poised to sweep urban seats and win more rural seats than it did last time. There is a realistic chance of the MDC causing a constitutional crisis by winning more seats than Zanu PF but being led by a Zanu PF president.

This will be a good starting point in the direction of ejecting not only President Robert Mugabe from power but annihilating Zanu PF’s philosophies and legacies that have made us the laughing stock of the world.

It is my belief that the mess created by Zanu PF in the last few years is enough fertile ground for the opposition to win any election.

Finally, I wish to say that the MDC should seriously reconsider its decision to boycott elections. Pulling out will only serve to strengthen Zanu PF.

Chris Chogugudza,
United Kingdom.

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