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Voter's check list - a must
Bill Saidi, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
February 17, 2008

http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=21&id=8346&siteid=1

Our vote is secret —they keep telling you before an election. But there is nothing illegal in sharing a few choice guidelines with fellow guardians of democracy.

First, does this candidate have a track record as a fearless defender of the rights of all people?

They may not have prostrated themselves in front of a Cabinet Minister-s Mercedes Benz, until that worthy contributed free of charge 50 000 litres of fuel to all the commuter omnibuses plying the city-Mbare route (it could be any other route, but I pick this one for sentimental reasons).

Secondly, have their party been involved in gratuitous violence against citizens, like the Women of Zimbabwe Arise! (WOZA), unarmed students protesting against steep tuition fees, or journalists protesting against AIPPA?

Thirdly, has their party existed for the entire period of our independence? If it has, was it the opposition or the ruling party?

If the latter, then there can be no equivocation: under this party, thousands of people died needlessly, thousands of jobs were lost needlessly, thousands of children died needlessly, thousands died of hunger . . .

Under that party, the Zimdollar became worthless, and the country lost many friends, needlessly.

If you still decide to vote for this candidate, then you have to answer to your Conscience, assuming there is someone looking after you.

Somewhere during your miserable life, the question may be asked: "Do you really care about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?"

Seriously, a party which has wreaked such havoc on people-s lives could not provide cast iron evidence of its right to another term. The country is now the butt of many, mostly sick jokes, from Anchorage, Alaska, to Darwin, Australia.

As a voter, you are expected to justify your endorsement of this party. Wherever you live in Zimbabwe, your life has been blighted by its stultifying bungling. In 28 years, has this party been a pillar of strength for you?

Or has it been violent, arrogant, uncaring, diffident, indifferent and insensitive to your every need?

If you think it-s presumptuous of a columnist to advise you on your choice on 29 March, you could be right.

But since freedom of expression is not proscribed in this land, you can-t very well sue the columnist for this generous advice.

Even under the almost lawless Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), there is no provision for imposing sanctions on a columnist who offers free advice to would-be voters.

After all, any lessons on freedom and democracy can be obtained in any library in the country. There, you will find the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which your government, the same one we are rubbishing, signed.

Article 1: All human beings are born free and endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

There are other Articles, including Article 19, which refers specifically to freedom of expression: your inalienable right as a free citizen.

The argument has been made that all this is rather airy-fairy, as the world is not perfect. People-s rights are violated daily and in many instances, there is no redress. Even soldiers of the United Nations are violating the women they are sworn to protect.

Zimbabwe has been accused of gross violations of citizens- rights. Since there has been no other government since independence, it is the government of the party seeking re-election on 29 March to blame.

You may argue that since you, personally, have not been subjected to any torture or inconvenience — being allowed to quaff your libation every night after work, in your favourite watering hole, with your closest male and female friends around you — what-s the big deal?

It may be difficult for you to appreciate your status if you were very young in 1980, when this country became Zimbabwe, shedding the name of Rhodesia.

That name was derived from Cecil Rhodes, a white adventurer and capitalist seeking to plunder the country for the enrichment and glory of his motherland, Great Britain.

A liberation war was launched against the descendants of the British occupiers and, after much bloodshed and destruction, Britain handed over the country back to its owners.

As represented by Zanu PF, the new owners have brought the country to what it is today: a penniless pariah state, with everything —except politicians — in short supply, including food, water, electricity, other basic necessities.

The election is designed — really! — for you to decide whether this party has done such a magnificent job it should be afforded another opportunity to . . .

You have your check list. Work on it.

saidib@standard.co.zw

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