MDC Statement on election proclamation 14 Jun 2013 The MDC notes with absolute anger and disbelief the proclamation by President Robert Mugabe that elections will be held on 31 July 2013. It is absolutely unthinkable that an election date could be unilaterally declared in flagrant disregard for the constitution and spirit of consensus so painstakingly constructed and nursed through the GPA. With a single stroke of the pen President Mugabe has shown total disrespect for SADC, the AU and scoffed at all the other institutions which have been patiently seized with the Zimbabwe problem. While Zimbabweans believed that when President Mugabe pleaded with SADC to postpone the Maputo SADC summit on Zimbabwe to allow him to consult, ostensibly with his GPA partners, he in fact was planning to torpedo the process of creating an environment of relative peace which will allow for free and fair elections whose outcome will not be disputed. President Mugabe, for all intents and purposes pulled a fast one on Zimbabwe. It is sad that someone who is fully aware of the reality that this country was pulled from the brink of implosion by the magnanimity of the MDC would behave with such unilateralism and exhibit absolute disdain for the same GPA partners. We wish to put it on record that at the SADC summit this coming weekend, we will expose and lay bare President Mugabe’s shenanigans. We will not allow him to drag this country into another 2008. It is clear that the intention of the proclamation is to force an election which will be run under the cover of darkness and chaos because it is only in such an environment that ZANU PF and President Mugabe can ‘win’ an election. The MDC cannot and will not watch ZANU PF and President Mugabe drag Zimbabwe into a chaotic election. We will remain faithful to the GPA and Road Map to elections and will demand that: a. The leaders of the military and other security organs’ partisan statements to the effect that only a ZANU PF presidential candidate will receive their support are publicly retracted. b. We procure un-conditional written and sworn commitment by the security chiefs that they will respect the will of the people as expressed through a free and fair election. c. There is guarantee of equal access by all contesting political parties to the state broadcaster and print media i.e. radio, television and newspapers. d. Non interference by the police in political party mobilizing, membership recruitment and canvassing activities. The police must understand that while political parties are compelled to inform them prior to holding public meeting, this does not amount and must not be read as seeking permission. e. There should be absolute cessation of all hate speech, abuse threats and intimidation. f. That the deployment of election observers prior to the election dates. g. That right to observe elections should not be decided on the basis of friendship with ZANU PF. Nhlanhla Dube MDC National Spokesperson
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:02:24 +0000
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