OSISA ‘funded’ MDC Alliance violent demos
Luke Tamborinyoka and Douglas Mwonzora
Our Harare Bureau is reliably informed that part of the OSISA money went to church organisations and a good number of political non-governmental organisations.
A prominent Harare lawyer, who is advising Mr Chamisa, was also a recipient of the OSISA fat purse and is now well-heeled to the extent he may not want to set foot in a court room for a year.
The top lawyer was promised a position in government if Mr Chamisa wins the elections.
Ironically, the same lawyer was the military advisor during Operation Restore Legacy.
Part of the money went to a group of scholars who include Philani Zamchiya, Pedzisai Ruhanya and Mr Chamisa’s spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda.
Mr Jim Kunaka, who is a member of the break away National Patriotic Front, also got a chunk of the money and was responsible for the mayhem at the Simon Muzenda Bus Terminus, including the torching of vehicles at the Zanu-PF provincial offices.
Sources privy to classified opposition information intimated to our Harare Bureau yesterday that the OSISA funded groups and individuals were now in a dilemma on their next move. “Following the abortive demos, the OSISA sponsored groups are now at sixies and sevens, with many contemplating to leave the country, others reaching out to State organs and volunteering information or adopting a wait and see approach,” said the source.
The source said part of the OSISA money was used to pay a sizeable number of journalists in the private media.
While the money influenced individual journalists, it did not influence the proprietors, who steered clear of the politics that OSISA was pushing.
On Wednesday, part of the money was used to buy intoxicants for the youths who were used in the illegal demonstrations that resulted in the death of six people.
Another source within the country’s security structure said: “Maybe we opened the door for international observers too wide, thereby admitting negative elements who include George Soros’ OSISA outfit.
“As I speak to you right now, they have been accredited to observe the elections and they are still in the country, but the system is watching them. A key member who is in OSISA who is playing an ethnic political card is the young Sipho Malunga, who is son to the late national hero, Cde Sydney Malunga.” ZANU-PF won 145 of the 210 seats in the National Assembly in the just ended harmonised elections against the MDC’s 63.
This was after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced results for three remaining seats in Harare Metropolitan Province yesterday morning.
Zanu-PF won one of the three seats taking its total to 145 seats from 144 earlier while the MDC’s tally rose from 61 to 63 after it won the other two seats, bring the total number won by the two parties to 208 seats.
The remaining two seats were won by the National Patriotic Front’s Blackman Matambanadzo (Kwekwe Central) and independent candidate Temba Mliswa (Norton).
In Harare the MDC Alliance won 28 seats THE International Election Observer Missions to Zimbabwe have condemned post-election violence that rocked Harare on Wednesday and extended their sympathies to all those affected during the skirmishes.
MDC Alliance supporters acting on the reckless statements of their leaders ran amok in Harare city centre destroying property, torching vehicles, looting and robbing vendors and pedestrians culminating in the death of three people.
The International Observer Missions comprise representatives of the African Union, Commonwealth, Sadc, Sadc Parliamentary Forum, Electoral Commissions Forum of Sadc, Comesa, European Union, Carter Centre, and the delegation of International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute observer missions.
In a joint statement released yesterday, the observers said while people have a right to peaceful protests, they should also observe the law.
“While recognising the right to peaceful protest, we condemn vandalism and destruction of property and call on political party supporters to abide by the law,” reads a statement by the observers.
The observers also denounced use of force in against Zanu-PF’s one seat while in Manicaland Zanu-PF won 19 out of the 26 constituencies with the remaining seven seats going to the MDC Alliance.
In Mashonaland Central the ruling party swept all the 18 seats while in Mashonaland East it took 21 seats out of the 23 available with the MDC Alliance winning the other two seats.
In Mashonaland West Zanu-PF won 18 seats with the MDC Alliance getting 3 while the other one went to Mr Mliswa.
In Masvingo Zanu-PF won 25 constituencies with the MDC Alliance winning one seat, in Matabeleland South the ruling party won 12 seats with the other seat going to the MDC Alliance.
In Matabeleland North Zanu-PF won eight seats out of 13 with the other five going to the MDC Alliance.
In Midlands Zanu-PF took 22 seats with the MDC Alliance winning five while the NPF won one seat. controlling violent protests. Zec, the observers said, should release full and detailed results expeditiously in a transparent and accountable manner.
“We call on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters, in particular the two main parties, Zanu-PF and the MDC Alliance, civil society, faith based organisations, and all other stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the political and electoral process,” said the observers.
The observers said political leaders must also show magnanimity in victory and graciousness in defeat.
They said those with grievances must pursue them peacefully through established legal channels.
“On 30 July, the people of Zimbabwe went to vote in high numbers, aspiring for a new beginning. We stand in solidarity with them as they look up to their leaders, and all stakeholders to complete this process peacefully and credibly and to ensure their votes truly count,” they said.
All observer missions conceded that this year’s pre-electoral environment as well as the polling day were generally peaceful characterised by opening of political space including freedoms for civil society.
Zanu-PF has since won 145 National Assembly seats to the MDC Alliance’s 63.
The National Patriotic Front only managed one seat while an independent candidate Mr Temba Mliswa also won in Norton.
The elections were very peaceful.
of Parliament, Ministers and Deputy Ministers continue to hold office as such until the President-elect assumes office after a general election,” reads the Section.
Bulawayo Human rights and Constitutional expert, Mr Tanaka Muganyi, explained that at no given time should there be a power vacuum in a State.
“The whole principle emanates from the analogue of power vacuum. At no given time should there be a power vacuum in a political state. Why? Because there should somebody controlling whether de-facto or de-jure at any given time,” said Mr Muganyi. “But for now, the President is in control de-jure in terms of the law. The reason is, his control emanates from Section 95 (1) b) which says following an election, the President remains a President until results are announced by Zec of a winner who is either him or not.”