Old habit of bad losers

The decision by the MDC Alliance in Zimbabwe to lodge an appeal against the recent poll results follows a familiar pattern in African elections. The predictable refusal to concede defeat, with belated accusations of vote rigging.

If the MDC election observers, who were at all voting venues, witnessed any irregularity during the election they were obligated to alert Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission and other observers at the polling stations and show the evidence to the world.

Their failure to do so undermines the credibility of their “evidence” now because it could have been manufactured.

The complaint that an electoral officer wore a scarf similar to the ruling party president is frivolous.

They complain that results were not posted outside polling stations and that they did not sign off on the results.

If true this would be a technical oversight that would not affect the way people voted. They also complain about stuffed envelopes. But who witnessed this, where, when and more importantly why was that information only from the MDC? Not a single other observer saw it.

The electoral commission declared the Zanu-PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa had 50.8% of votes against the MDC Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa’s 44.3%. The closeness of the outcome suggests the credibility of this poll.

The appeal is not to do with fair elections. African elections are but a contest for control of the economy.

Chamisa could have emerged as a great leader with a prominent legacy in African electoral history as the first candidate to call his opponent, congratulate him and send a message to the outside world that time to invest in Zimbabwe’s future is now. After all, the closeness of the result means he is still a winner with half the Zimbabwe population. Well almost. – Wongaletu Vanda, via e-mail