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Zimbabwe
2008 elections:
The Prospect of Intimidation and Violence
Zimbabwe holds presidential,
parliamentary and local government elections on March 29. On the ballot
is President Robert Mugabe, 84 who plan to extend his 27 years in power
for another five years; Morgan Tsvangira, a pro democracy and union
labor activists and Simba Makoni, a former finance minister.
Non governmental organizations
and religious leaders such as the Zimbabwe Catholic Justice and Peace
Commission have called for postponement of these elections because there
are clear signs that the polls will not be free and fair.
There are ongoing reports of
intimidation and politically motivated violence against opposition party
members mostly committed by surrogates of the Mugabe regime. Notorious
for crushing the political opposition are the Zimbabwe police and
security forces who enforce the Mugabe’s public order and security act.
Watch the Open Society
Institute link;
“Eyes on Zimbabwe” that confirms this crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the
Mugabe regime, the foreign minister of Zimbabwe has confirmed a ban on
Western election observers especially from the U.S. and the U.K.
Observers for the elections will instead come from China, Iran,
Ethiopia, Venezuela, Nigeria and Kenya. Recent deeply flawed elections
in Kenya led to serious ethnic violence. Also included on the list of
observers is Russia which just chose a leader handpicked by the former
president. The above nations were chosen by Mr. Mugabe on the basis of
their objectivity to Zimbabwe’s elections process.
On his recent trip to Africa,
President Bush expressed serious concerns about the upcoming Zimbabwean
elections. The U.S. has imposed military equipment and financial
sanctions against the Zimbabwe regime since 20o2. Only emergency food
and medicines is allowed to be shipped into Zimbabwe.
Missionary
Oblates have been in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe since 1983.The Oblates work in
pastoral work, with youth and focusing on social justice. Unresolved
election turmoil will be another challenge to the Oblate mission work.
Zimbabweans are struggling to survive with an economy beset by
hyperinflation, an unemployment rate of 80% and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Oblate JPIC office is trying to be supportive of our oblate
colleagues in Zimbabwe as they stand in solidarity with local people for
a democratic Zimbabwe.
Churches
continue to give hope to millions of people. However church leaders risk
to be punished for such advocacy by President Mugabe who treats any
preaching on justice, peace and solidarity as a political agenda.
Experts and
local non-governmental organizations anticipate the elections to the
controversial and violent. Given this prospect, many Zimbabweans are
asking for the rationale for voting on March 29. Unlike the slow
response to the Kenyan election crisis, which left hundreds of people
dead and thousands displaced, the international community - and
especially neighboring African nations - need to need to have
contingency plans in place now to respond to any major crisis that may
arise during and after the 29th March elections in Zimbabwe. |
