Prospects of rejoining Commonwealth very thin
team found out that there were still fundamental criteria gaps.
Your Excellency, the ball is in your court. However, with such close associates as Equatorial Guinea’s long-time ruler, Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo, who advised you that you cannot be in power and lose an election, you might as well kiss goodbye to rejoining the Commonwealth.
His remarks at your send-off at the end of your three-day State visit to Malabo last year were altogether an antithesis of the Commonwealth ideals.
“You cannot be in power and lose an election. Use the power you have to win the election. The opposition might make noise, and say whatever, but you are in power, you cannot lose an election. Make sure you win the election,” he unashamedly said.
Methinks, Mbasogo knew that he was reaffirming the practice which Zanu PF uses to retain power.
Agreed, the deposed late former President Robert Mugabe was an expert on electoral chicanery and violence. Granted, you are his quintessential heir apparent.
Despite endorsements by the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc), Zimbabwe has a soiled reputation of disputed elections. Consequently, neighbouring countries are dragged into the throes of woes resulting from her electoral delinquency.
Your Excellency, ever since former South African President Thabo Mbeki initiated his socalled quiet diplomacy, the Zimbabwe socio-economic meltdown has been burdening the region. His failure to speak boldly as prophet Nathan did to King David, was inherited in its entirety by the current Sadc leadership.
It is not only the Commonwealth that is concerned about the diminishing returns of absence of democracy in Zimbabwe. Recently, European Union (EU) ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jobst von Kirchmann said if the country held credible elections, there would be increased appetite for the EU to help clear its debt that currently stands at US $17,6 billion.
He emphasised that the EU bloc was following closely the process leading to elections, which is of great importance to the democratic trajectory of the country.
“The EU encourages all electoral stakeholders, State and non-State alike, to play their role in ensuring the organisation of credible and peaceful electoral process,” he said.
Your Excellency, there was reason in the madness of some British parliamentarians who pleaded for the withdrawal of your invitation to the coronation of King Charles III. They were convinced that you would not facilitate a credible and peaceful electoral process.
Considering the disputes ignited by the delimitation report which was disowned by seven of the nine members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the compilation of the voters roll, prospects of a credible and peaceful electoral process are, indeed, in jeopardy.
Added to that is the systematic manipulation of the law against