Zanu PF divides SA parties

SOUTH African opposition parties have protested a move by that country’s ruling ANC party to invite Zanu PF for its last minute mop-up campaign rallies ahead of the May 29 elections. State media last week quoted Zanu PF secretary-general, Obert Mpofu, saying the ruling party had been invited to be part of ANC’s electioneering team.

Zanu PF, ANC and other liberation movements in southern Africa met in Victoria Falls early this year to map out strategies of hanging on to power.

In South Africa, word that Zanu PF will be mobilising votes for ANC has angered opposition parties in that country which fear the rigging of elections.

“The ANC is bringing Zimbabwe’s Zanu PF to interfere with South Africa’s elections,” read in part a campaign message by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

“In its desperate attempt to hang on to power, the ANC has invited Zanu PF to be part of its election campaign programme.

“Zanu PF has rigged Zimbabwe’s elections many times over; its interference in South Africa will burn our nation to ashes. The DA is taking action to stop this.”

Zanu PF, in power since 1980, has been accused of rigging the country’s elections, a charge the party denies.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to accept the results of last year’s disputed elections saying they were rigged in favour of Zanu PF.

In a letter dated May 10 this year addressed to South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the opposition African Transformation Movement (ATM) said it did not want Zanu PF anywhere near that country’s electoral processes.

ATM president, Vuyo Zungula, said Zanu PF had a well-known history of electoral malpractices and voter fraud.

“Allowing Zanu PF to observe our elections risks tarnishing the legitimacy and credibility of our own electoral process,” Zungula said.

“Furthermore, permitting Zanu PF to observe our elections is not only concerning due to its track record but also because of its close association with the ruling party in South Africa, the ANC.”

He urged IEC to reject Zanu PF's involvement in South Africa’s electoral processes.

Build One South Africa leader, Mmusi Maimane, also protested plans to rope in Zanu PF for electoral campaigns.

Mpofu referred NewsDay to Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and party information director Farai Marapira when reached for comment.

Repeated efforts to obtain a comment from Mutsvangwa and Marapira were fruitless as the two are reportedly in China.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said concerns by South African opposition parties were spot on.

“Zanu PF does not believe in free and fair elections, neither does it believe in free and fair monitoring and observation of elections,” Saungweme said.

“There is no political, social or any other capital to be gained by South Africa from the involvement of Zanu PF in the observation of its elections.”

Another political analyst Kudakweshe Munemo echoed similar sentiments.

“It also lays bare the unconditional solidarity between and among the liberation movements in southern Africa and beyond which have not been able to objectively engage in ensuring free, fair and credible elections, instead chose to protect the diversion of the people's will for their own selfish interests,” Munemo said.

Last year, Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) head of observer mission Nevers Mumba described the Zimbabwean elections as the most fraudulent in the history of Sadc.