Zimbabwe’s blood-soaked parliamentary by-election last weekend, won by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF amid accusations of violence and bribery, could be a harbinger of things to come during next year’s general election.
Analysts said the election, which was also marred by coercion and the inducement of people to vote through “gifts” or “donations”, proved Mugabe’s regime was still rigidly determined to cling to power by fair means or foul.
Voters were allegedly bribed with, among other things, free medication. A number of voters who reportedly requested help from polling officers to cast their ballots, claiming to be either illiterate, sick or suffering from “blurred vision” or “unsteady hands”, were allegedly part of the Zanu-PF strategy to ensure they voted as instructed.
An opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporter, Francis Chinozvinya, was shot and killed on Sunday, allegedly by a senior Zanu-PF official and minister.
The Zanu-PF candidate in the by-election, Chris Chigumba, won the poll by 8 447 votes compared with 6 706 votes for the MDC candidate, James Makore.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Nathan Shamuyarira said the result heralded the end of the MDC.
“It signals the end of the MDC’s dominance in urban areas. It’s a turning point in the political system in this country,” he said. “We are now ready to challenge the MDC and romp to victory in the 2005 general election.”
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said the poll showed that elections remain a “bloody affair” in Zimbabwe.
“We condemn the continuous descent into thuggery, lawlessness and mayhem in the general body politic in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Elections, which should reflect the exercise of our sovereignty in the selection of our leaders, should never become open season for murder, torture, beatings and violence.”
Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe should revamp its electoral system to ensure legitimate polls. The MDC has produced a list of 15 electoral reform demands that include the need for independent electoral agencies and equal access to the public media.
Mugabe currently appoints members of election agencies such as the Electoral Supervisory Commission, the Election Directorate and the Delimitation Commission.
A flood of condemnation followed the by-election.
University of Zimbabwe political scientist John Makumbe said the Zengeza by-election was a precursor of things to come in the general election, scheduled for March next year.
“It means next year’s election will be characterised by bloodshed unless there are dramatic changes in the electoral system and political climate,” Makumbe said.
“The by-election also proved that Zanu-PF has now really perfected the art of electoral fraud.” Makumbe said that without a fundamental overhaul of the electoral system Zimbabwe would continue to hold fraudulent elections that subvert the popular will and produce illegitimate regimes.
“Unless there are radical reforms to the Electoral Act and the management of elections in this country, it would be futile for any opposition to think it can win,” he said.
In its reaction local election monitoring body, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), said Zanu-PF secured its victory through coercion by youth militias.
ZESN head Reginald Matchaba-Hove said the poll was badly marred by widespread irregularities and intimidation. “Free and fair elections can only take place in a tolerant political environment,” he said. “It is also worrisome that lawenforcement agents are mentioned among the perpetrators of violence.”
ZESN said Zanu-PF was accused of paying Z$10 000 each to thousands of people in exchange for votes.
Crisis in Zimbabwe, a coalition of civic groups, slammed the entrenched culture of electoral violence, saying it was “perturbed by the continued killing of innocent citizens during election times.”
The United States State Department condemned “violence, intimidation, and irregularities” during the by-election.
Dumisani Muleya is chief reporter for the Zimbabwe Independent