The decision by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to suspend its participation in further elections pending Zimbabwe’s compliance with the new Southern African Development Community (SADC) guidelines and principles for democratic elections seems to have taken many by surprise.
It was assumed that the MDC would continue to place blind faith in Zanu-PF eventually opening up the democratic space and restoring citizens’ rights to participate freely in the democratic process. The MDC has, after all, participated in deeply flawed elections since 2000.
Since the disputed March 2002 elections we have tried in vain to enter into dialogue with Zanu-PF to build a national political consensus on the way forward — a prerequisite for tackling Zimbabwe’s multi-faceted crisis.
The obstinacy of Zanu-PF towards introducing reforms to restore genuine, democratic elections prompted the MDC, in January this year, to publish a set of minimum standards for elections in a document entitled Restore. Our aim was to give Zanu-PF sufficient time to implement these standards ahead of the parliamentary elections in March next year.
When President Robert Mugabe agreed with other SADC leaders in Mauritius on a comprehensive set of standards for elections it appeared that Zanu-PF would finally embark on a comprehensive programme of democratic reform in line with SADC standards.
Sadly, the publication by the Zimbabwean government of a new draconian Bill to repress and control the activities of human rights organisations made it immediately apparent that the electoral environment in Zimbabwe is actually getting worse.
In light of these regretful developments the MDC took the decision to suspend participation in elections pending Zimbabwe’s total compliance with the Mauritius principles.
With parliamentary elections less than seven months away, it was essential that an emphatic and clear message be sent that major democratic reforms are still needed to restore transparency and fairness to the entire electoral process. These reforms — which include repealing statutes that curtail basic rights, disbanding the youth militias and the compilation of, and access to, a new and accurate voters’ roll — take time to implement; they cannot simply be introduced a month or two before polling day.
The nationwide celebrations that took place throughout Zimbabwe last weekend, marking the MDC’s fifth anniversary, clearly demonstrate the growing momentum for genuine electoral reform.
The overwhelmingly positive response from the people, the continued harassment of MDC members and the publication last Friday of a new Bill to establish an ”independent” electoral commission, further vindicates our decision to suspend participation in elections.
The appointments procedure for the new commission means that it will be independent in name only. Mugabe will appoint its chairperson and the balance of its members will be selected by him from a shortlist provided by a parliamentary committee dominated by Zanu-PF.
While we are limited in our internal ability to achieve change, we still continue to try by mobilising peaceful pressure. However, we know we must work together with our allies in SADC to bring genuine democracy and prosperity to the region.
We believe that the MDC, the SADC leadership and the people of the SADC region all aspire for the same thing. We want food for our children. We want jobs and investment in the region to uplift the lives of poverty stricken people still waiting for the benefits of economic liberation. We want genuine political reforms that protect the freedoms that many fought and died for. We want to work together with others in the region to stabilise our country’s crisis, and to do so rapidly.
David Coltart is the MDC’s shadow minister of justice