/ 29 April 2011

Zim elections road map ignores security, financial land mines

A broad agreement on a new road map for fresh elections in Zimbabwe could be derailed by Zanu-PF’s refusal to yield on security reforms and because of a lack of funding for the poll.

Zanu-PF has threatened not to back reforms of electoral laws until Western sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and his main supporters are lifted. On the other hand, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has made the reform of security services its priority, an area that is very sensitive for Zanu-PF.

The military remains under the control of Zanu-PF loyalists and both serving and retired military figures have a stranglehold on a broad range of key state institutions, from broadcasting to transportation and agriculture.

In terms of the road map, the negotiators would hold meetings with the chiefs of police, the military and intelligence to lay out a reform agenda that would “ensure [their] full commitment to operate in a non-partisan manner”.

There are many signs to remind the MDC that security reform will be tough. This week police banned some Workers’ Day rallies, fearing they could be turned into anti-Mugabe demonstrations.

The arrest of anti-Mugabe activists continues, with some of Morgan Tsvangirai’s most senior officials routinely detained for holding ­meetings with supporters.

The road map seeks changes to the country’s electoral laws, a process that the MDC hopes to use to push through broad reforms.

On media the parties have agreed to reforms of the ZBC, the country’s only broadcaster, which has stepped up a propaganda campaign against Mugabe’s opponents in recent months.

A new board will be appointed to the body tasked with licensing new broadcasters, although media groups doubt Zanu-PF will allow private stations on the eve of elections.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission appointments
According to a report on the road map, the parties also disagree on who to appoint to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which runs elections. The MDC wants Southern African Development Community (SADC) election monitors to be deployed to Zimbabwe six months before the elections and to stay on for six months afterwards. Zanu-PF has previously rejected this proposal.

Patrick Chinamasa, the justice minister and Zanu-PF negotiator, said the road map was due to be submitted to President Jacob Zuma’s team. It would then be forwarded to a meeting of the SADC heads of state on May 20 in Namibia.

“The report identifies activities that have to be undertaken before elections are held. These are the lifting of sanctions, completion of the constitution-making process and enactment of amendments to the Electoral Act,” Chinamasa said.

Elton Mangoma, an MDC negotiator, said there was still disagreement over Zanu-PF’s use of soldiers in campaigning, especially in rural areas. In discussions over the road map Zanu-PF argued that former military figures had a right to be involved in politics.

“These are retired members who feel that they should defend the party and country against any attack by the same imperialists who once colonised us,” Chinamasa said.

However, even if agreement is reached on the road map Zimbabwe must still find the money to run the elections. Tendai Biti, finance minister and MDC secretary general, has said the country cannot afford elections. The ZEC had submitted a budget of $400-million, he said, which the government could not meet.

Despite this, Mugabe is refusing Western aid for the polls. According to Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, Mugabe rejected offers of aid from “the very countries that have caused the problems in this country”.

There is little public support for Mugabe’s bid to hold elections this year. Business groups believe elections will only reverse the economy’s modest recovery, although a clear road map that sets dates would help lift the uncertainty.

There are also worries that the MDC, gripped by internal fighting, is being distracted by negotiations over the road map and may not be ready to take on Zanu-PF if new elections are called.

Ahead of the party’s congress this weekend, bitter power struggles have set off violence among its supporters, demoralising voters and isolating the MDC from its traditional funders.