Gains of liberation long forgotten

IN commemoration of the International Day of Democracy, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) urges the Second Republic to immediately implement electoral reforms and reinstate by-elections to ensure a return to participatory democracy and that citizens are equally represented in councils and Parliament.

The call comes at a time when the world is marking International Day of Democracy, which is observed annually on September 15 with the aim to encourage people and governments to uphold human rights and allow for meaningful democratic participation.

Despite promising to preside over a democratic government that respects the Constitution, rule of law, and mutual tolerance, it is regrettable that four years after these utterances by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and 41 years after independence, Zimbabweans are underrepresented in Parliament and local government, amid rampant human rights violations that were the order of the day during colonial rule under Ian Smith.

The current system betrays the men and women who gave their lives to free Zimbabweans from colonial rule and enjoy fair representation, equality and basic human rights.

Zimbabweans fought for these fundamental rights and they must not be compromised.

Unfortunately, in modern Zimbabwe, more than 90 wards and 26 constituencies are unrepresented, without councillors or members of Parliament.

The country cannot continue to commemorate days such as the International Day of Democracy, while democracy is not being accorded its rightful place. ERC would like to make it abundantly clear that calls for electoral reforms and the reinstatement of by-elections are not a push for regime change but are key for true representative democracy.

Elections, however, have been characterised by violence, intimidation, and disputed results. The goal of democracy is to provide citizens with an environment conducive for open participation, free, fair and credible elections and a fair playing field in which political parties access all constituencies without hindrance.

As a matter of urgency, the ERC urges the Second Republic to fulfil the pledges made during the 2018 election campaign, the most important of which is the implementation of electoral reforms. The goal of the reforms is to improve the democratic environment according to the Constitution.

The current scenario in Zimbabwe demonstrates how the use of force, coercion and selective application of the law limit democracy.