People’s choices must be respected

THE death of three people in Harare on Wednesday afternoon during clashes between violent MDC Alliance protesters and security forces is most regrettable.

In our opinion, the blame lies squarely with the opposition leadership, for blatantly inciting its supporters to use violence as means of resolving problems.

The unfortunate and deplorable scenes witnessed in the capital city came on the back of significantly undisturbed election campaigning period. And the voting on Monday this week in Zimbabwe’s harmonised elections passed off peacefully as millions of people queued to elect a President, House of Assembly member and councillor, in a largely inspiring display of democratic commitment.

But with the announcement of results underway, and the ruling Zanu-PF party garnering a landslide victory, the opposition MDC Alliance was already in protest mode. Its leadership made claims that the poll is “fraudulent”. It was clear trouble was brewing.

It is apparent for all to see that the MDC Alliance has been priming for violence during campaigning and voting after MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa threatened to unleash violence if his party lost the harmonised elections.

While addressing party supporters at a campaign rally at Jerera Growth point in Zaka, Chamisa said his party would use violent means to grab political power if they lose the polls. This is all on record.

Said Chamisa: “This time around the election is going to produce one outcome and that is victory for the MDC Alliance. ZEC is a biased referee, a referee who throws away the whistle and joins the other team, we will protest against that, we are going to bring into the streets guys from Mbare Musika they are ready for that.”

In another warning, Chamisa said: “We are not going to leave any stone unturned. This election is going to be very different because I am even ready to take power either by votes or by other means.’’

The other leader of the MDC Alliance, Tendai Biti also declared during campaigning that if the election results do not go in his party’s favour, they would make the country “ungovernable”.

These threats by Chamisa and Biti sharply contrast with repeated messages for peace by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been incessantly calling for violence-free elections. President Mnangagwa has been exhorting Zimbabweans to observe peace before, during and after the polls for the outcome to be credible

What happened on Wednesday afternoon is exactly what Chamisa and Biti had warned would happen. This is despite the fact that people had made their choices, which should be respected.

Section 59 of Zimbabwe’s constitution accords Zimbabweans the right to protest peacefully. But to the contrary, Wednesday’s protests were violent and to large extent threatening the security situation of the country.

Many witnessed hordes of marauding MDC Alliance supporters marching to Rainbow Towers where the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) command centre is located with the intention of storming the building and disrupting proceedings. Anti-riot police acted quickly and denied them entry.

At the Zanu PF headquarters, a haulage truck which had been used to display President Mnangagwa’s campaign billboards had windows shattered by angry stone throwing youths while Mnangagwa’s billboard within the party offices’ grounds was also vandalised. What was shocking was the fact that agitated misguided youths demanded to know where Zanu PF got the vote that garnered the landslide victory, insisting MDC Alliance supporters overwhelmingly voted for Chamisa.

The happenings in the heart of the city, where rowdy youths turned things upside down, burning vehicles, blocking streets, uprooting bins, robbing vendors and stoning buildings was ghastly to contemplate on.

This was anarchy and the overstretched anti-riot police had no choice but to call on the support of the military which reacted swiftly to clear the streets of protestors and return calm in the city centre.

We need to remind the opposition that there is unanimous agreement among African election observers — the African Union, Sadc, Comesa and local groups — that the campaigning and voting was peaceful and transparent. This alone dismisses the notion of systematic rigging which might have swung the poll.

It is submission that those involved in violent protests are criminals, and we must expect the police to deal with them in the way that criminals are dealt with. While they have a right to express their frustration and opinion, they do not have the right damage people’s property.