Back to Index

Only Zimbabweans make peaceful elections happen
Arkmore Kori
October 25, 2010

'I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent- (Mohandas Gandhi).

Recent political developments such as the impasse of Government of National Unity with only four months before it expires and the constitutional stalemate have made it fashionable to talk about elections as the only solution to the Zimbabwean crisis despite 2008 election violence overhang renewed a few weeks ago during the constitutional outreach programme. Many, including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, believe with the help of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, peaceful elections are possible. Some have even called for either regional or international garrison to be deployed in Zimbabwe to safeguard peace during election time.

But our experience shows SADC and AU are powerless to stop any political or election violence in Zimbabwe. When they came for the June 2008 run-off, they just 'observed- both elections and the accompanying violence pending a mild conclusion: 'elections were not free and fair!- In fact, it-s a bit ambitious to expect SADC or AU to make Zimbabwe a better place. President Mugabe did not join SADC, but is the only surviving founder of then Frontline States which metamorphosed to Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) before becoming SADC. This means he has a lot of influence in regional decision making. At the same time, it-s SADC that advises AU on regional issues, including the Zimbabwean question. This means any decision made on Zimbabwe at either regional or continental level, is indirectly made by Mugabe.

Indeed, except for Operation Gukurahundi of the 1980s which had an external influence in the substance of North Korea, the political and electoral violence that have been occurring in Zimbabwe, particularly after the year 2000, has been home grown. It has been organised and perpetrated by four community based conglomerates - traditional leaders, war veterans, youth militias and the 'women-s league- - that work indispensably with each other.

Against their traditional role of safeguarding our culture, providing food to the needy (remember Zunde Ramambo?), mediating conflicts and preserving peace, traditional leaders have become an extension of the deteriorating ZANU PF structures. Their mandate in Zimbabwe-s internal conflict is 'selling out-, pin-pointing and compiling lists of ZANU PF opponents as pleasure for the salaries and numerous benefits, including houses, vehicles and electrification provided on tax payers- expense. The youth are responsible for administering the list of opponents and effecting 'punishment- according to instructions they receive from war veterans. The 'women-s league- provides moral support: ululating, singing and clapping during torture or murder sessions.

The way forward is to destroy this network. Most importantly, removal of the youth from this violence equation would make elections safer. Real war veterans and traditional leaders are too old to torture or kill. Relative election peace prevailed in Hwange which witnessed almost no violence in 2008. It also happened in few villages in Gokwe. It happened recently in Bikita when the youth refused to be 'used- in violence by war veterans.

Of course, such communities have discouraged the youth from cooperating with violence mongers. Instead, the youth have become the defenders of their communities against 'intrusion- and violence, especially caused by 'imported youth- from other villages or districts. Besides, murder has its own consequences, not only for the perpetrators, but for the whole family or clan. A Gokwe man, for example, murdered in 2008 has 'refused- to be moved out of the mortuary, let alone a state coffin. Mysterious things related to avenging spirits or ngozi are happening to the family of those who participated in the killing! This may not be peculiar to this family alone, but others whose sons and daughters have murdered. Surely, we don-t need SADC, AU, United Nations or international forces to stop us from beating or killing one another.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP