Alarm as political violence cases spike ahead of 2023 polls
Chances of Zimbabwe holding peaceful elections this year are fast diminishing as violence against the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is escalating and security forces are becoming more hostile towards government critics, political analysts have warned.
In the past few weeks, the country has seen CCC members being brutally attacked by alleged Zanu PF activists with police not offering them protection.
A recent video which went viral on social media platforms showed elderly members of CCC being beaten by suspected Zanu PF thugs in Murewa.
In another incident 26 CCC members including two legislators and a minor were arrested in Harare’s Budiriro suburb for holding a meeting at a private residence.
A lawyer for the arrested opposition members Kudzai Kadzere suffered serious injuries after he was severely assaulted by riot police officers while trying to represent his clients
Last week there was an outcry by civil society organisations and lawyers who argued that the lack of respect by the police and the state towards lawyers would leave civilians in a vulnerable state ahead of elections.
Analysts who spoke to The Standard said the unfolding events were an indicator that there was no possibility of free and fair elections as Zanu PF was going for broke to remain in power.
Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said Zanu-PF’s modus operandi during elections has not changed since 1980.
“Their fear of political competition and the one-party-state mantra prompts them to intimidate, arrest, beat up and kill opponents,” Ngwenya said.
“The year 2023 is going to be worse because Emmerson Mnangagwa has totally failed to deliver.
“He now relies on captured state institutions and lawfare to rescue his dwindling political capital.”
Ngwenya said the tactics of arrests and intimidation of opposition members by the government amounted to cowardice.
“These are cowards whose only strategy is intimidation. As Jonathan Moyo once said, ‘Mnangagwa is unelectable’,” he added.
Academic and political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said the possibility of a free and fair elections in Zimbabwe was a mirage.
“It is not possible to have an even electoral platform in Zimbabwe or under competitive authoritarian regimes, who use the menu of electoral manipulation that includes violence, voters' roll rigma role gerrymandering of the delimitation process,” Ruhanya said.
“All these are a hybrid of tactics meant to tilt electoral processes in favour of the incumbent, being the ruling party.”