Comrades in Complicity If the fraudulent elections, which took place in broad daylight in Zimbabwe last week Wednesday, were the latest valid reference point for ‘democracy made in Africa’, we have messed up the continent’s image once again thoroughly. Comrade Bob, clever and street smart, since a decade not holding any legitimacy in office as the head of state, showed the recipe and cooked a toxic dish. The brew had a history. First, you ignore the will of the electorate when you realize that you misjudged the people’s desire and stay in office even when you are voted out. You remain under control over the decisive agencies of state and security. You fill the so- called independent judiciary with politically loyal stooges posing as judges. You use the party votes in parliament to adapt, modify and change legislature as it pleases you to oppress the media freedom and call it the rule of law simply because you apply repressive legislation as law of the rulers. If that all does not help and the people despite torture, killings, arrests and other forms of harassment do not give in but vote at the next elections again for the opposition, you again continue to refuse surrendering political power. Instead, you form a government that claims to be of national unity, though you have no right to be part of such a government. That gives you the grace period to make further final installations for the next elections. Then you recruit expertise (if needed even from a country which practices a similar ruthless policy of oppression against people in occupied territories, resembling features of the old Apartheid system). They work with their local secret service and know how to fabricate a voters’ roll. Then you unilaterally proclaim an election date within the shortest possible time to avoid any checks and balances. After all, the so-called government of national unity is only a smokescreen and not really supposed to act in unity. Remember: it was created to buy time. If the fellow governing parties (who do not really govern) cry foul and seek justice before the court, the ‘independent’ judiciary plays the role for which it had been hand picked. It dismisses the claims despite the blatant violation of the agreements entered earlier on. With very few exceptions, members of the electoral commission offer the same performance. They are willing to act in a play called mockery of democracy. After all, you do not bite the hand of those who feed you. Implementing this plan for ‘re-election’, you also ignore the concerns expressed by the peers in the neighboring states, who happen to be in the same regional alliance. After all, they were lenient, patient and tolerant throughout the decade of staying in power illegitimately, thereby being part of what borders to conspiracy and is by all means complicity. They re-embodied the three monkeys who do not hear, do not see and do not say anything. Last but not least, you again make a careful selection among those who are admitted as ‘independent’ external observers. Comes ultimately the so-called Election Day, everything goes smooth and – much to the relief of all – without any forms of violence or other disturbing features the world was used to during the previous years. Terror is hardly required, since everything was already in place before the votes were cast. The election result was a foregone conclusion. In appreciation of the absence of such physical intimidation, observers note that the elections took place orderly. They testify that the process at the very same day was reasonably fair. Then the regional and international alliance of autocrats and former freedom fighters kicks in. On behalf of their governments (not necessarily their people) they congratulate comrade Bob to his convincing and resounding victory. – And they live happily ever after. We have forthcoming elections next year in Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. None of these states are as much in a mess as Zimbabwe. But all of them were among the first to play along with the overtly fraudulent undertaking masquerading as ‘democratic election’. Even the political opposition in Zimbabwe, aware of what was coming, did not pull out of the farce. Calling it theft now, comes a bit late. If we accept this as ‘African democracy’, we can kiss good-bye to the free will of the people and surrender our right to make choices to those, who do not care for the people anyway. It suits them
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 12:25:28 +0000