NERA stop being crybabies
EDITOR — Media reports have it that 18 opposition political parties that are signatories to the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (NERA) are to hold a joint protest today to force Government to implement electoral reforms.
The demonstrators also want to stop plans by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to procure Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits for the 2018 harmonised elections.
Initially, Government had okayed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to procure the BVR kits and later rescinded that arrangement opting to provide funds that are needed in procuring the BVR kits.
NERA secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said NERA was organising nationwide demonstrations against the Government to show that people were not pleased with that decision.
However, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa stressed that Government had only agreed to provide $17 million to fund the acquisition of BVR kits and nothing more.
It is known that the idea of planned protests by NERA is being done at the behest of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai who after poll defeats is now drawing in, little-known opposition outfits to fight his battle.
Previous demonstrations by Tsvangirai and his cronies have proved to be violent. Shops were looted and destroyed while vehicles were burnt.
Sadly, owners of these shattered properties had to foot the bills of repairs, and a repeat of such destruction cannot be allowed to happen.
Therefore, NERA should be warned against such mayhem as they cause fear and disturb peace among innocent citizens. There is nothing wrong for Government to acquire BVR kits. Opposition outfits have a propensity of opposing Government programmes for no apparent reason.
Procurement of BVR kits by Government will not change anything. If the opposition is meant to win next year’s election, it will just win despite the issue of BVR. From the look of things, Tsvangirai is viewing himself as the heir apparent opposition leader in the event their doomed coalition plans ever succeed.
He sees himself in charge over other opposition party leaders, a premature conclusion as others in the coalition talks also have similar aspirations.
Other opposition political outfits should be encouraged to see beyond the smokescreen that they are being used as campaigning tools by Tsvangirai.
By now, opposition parties under NERA should have smelt a rat and refused to be treated as less important by MDC-T whose superiority complex is dictating the pace how NERA operates.
Heartening to note is that Government having heard concerns by opposition parties is now acting to improve the electoral space, a development which MDC-T and its minions under the auspices of NERA is taking umbrage about.
The masses that have been mobilised by NERA to protest against Government should not heed this call. On the other hand, security forces should be urged to be on higher alert and arrest those found on the wrong side of the law.
Inasmuch as demonstrating is a democratic right for every Zimbabwean citizen, such demonstrations should not impinge on other people’s activities.
The economic and social damage caused by these protests is insupportable. Honestly, business should not be made to stand still because of such nonsensical protests. NERA should just peacefully engage ZEC with its concerns. ZEC has even gone as far as accommodating NERA in past meetings all which goes to show how open to dialogue they are.
Some of the electoral reforms that NERA are fighting for is the issue of security forces. NERA wrongly believes that all security forces are linked to the ruling party, ZANU-PF.
Truth be told, security forces are apolitical, meaning they do not subscribe to any political party. Their role is merely to serve the country and its citizens.
NERA, to be forewarned is to be forearmed, stay away from these protests.