Times might be tense here in Zimbabwe but hey, you’ve got to have a laugh – just don’t press 1 for Zanu PF. To listen to this audio spoof, click here

It’s less than 24 hours before e-day and I’m wondering to myself why I don’t feel as excited as most of my colleagues. I mean this is the mother of all elections, and the anticipation and the need for change that ought to be infectious seems to be having no effect on me. Not intending to cloud everyone else’s excitement though I’ll tell you how I feel. I have this greatest sense of foreboding. Yeah, a couple of my friends are convinced I’m just a natural pessimist but I tell you, this cloud hanging over me is so real – nothing to do with pessimism this.

Why do I feel this way? Well, I don’t know. I’m not sure whether I’m afraid of disappointment, or if by some lucky streak, “change” does hit us, will it be more of the same old? I’m kind of finding it hard to imagine that should Bob lose the election, he’d be out of State House in exactly 72hours.

I’m afraid of all kinds of things that may happen, the irony of the possibility of finally having Zimbabwe’s life president ousted, even though he swore it would never happen in his lifetime. I’ll tell you what would more ironic than that though. It is having the little known, much underestimated Langton Towungana win the presidential race.

I wonder if I’m the only one who feels strange . . .

As Saturday’s election draws closer I’ve been reflecting on our individual and collective disempowerment as Zimbabwean citizens. Take the issue of political posters for example. All over the city private businesses like fuel stations,cafes and office blocks have had (predominantly) Zanu PF posters pasted on their walls. Ordinary home owners have also experienced this. Instead of ripping these posters down and asserting their right to keep their private property free of politricking (if they so wish) Zimbabweans cower and refuse to stand up to Mugabe’s regime. I can’t imagine that many South Africans would tolerate the image of shower-head Zuma on their private property without their consent.

And then there are the taxi and bus drivers who bow to the military and the police demands for free travel on public transport.

And long queues of long suffering Zimbabweans wait patiently in line for cash while allowing men in uniform to bully their way to the front so that they get first dibs at the little cash thats available.

What will it take to end this? What will it take for Zimbabweans to demand equality and justice?

If, and that’s a big IF, there’s a change of political leadership in Zimbabwe, we need more than cosmetic political change. Tsvangirai’s campaign message has been “Morgan is More“. But we need more than Morgan; we need each and everyone of us to confront our lack of courage in keeping our politicians and civic leaders accountable. We need to stop relinquishing our power and outsourcing our social and political responsibilities.

Zimbabwe’s rehabilitation requires far more than a X on election day. It requires a change of behaviour, and a change of heart. And the maturity to demand More from ourselves as active and aware citizens.

Zimbabweans,
your future is In your hands.

What is in your pocket right now?
How many bearers are in your wallet?
Why are you not having your favorite food?

Your future is in your hands!
How much do you have in your savings account?
How do you get home after work?

Your future is in your hands!
Is your fuel-gauge working or
is your tank running empty?

Your future is in your hands!
Zimbabwe is yours forever,
it’s You who make it shine.

Your future is in your hands!
Why are you not smiling?
What’s in your refrigerator?
Why are you so low and not active?
Why are your children not at school?
Why are you not paying your rentals, fees, bills in time?

Just wake up . . .
And go to the nearest polling station in your ward and
X Vote!

The good news is that one of the regime’s water canons has broken down on Samora Machel Avenue.

The bad news is their fighter planes are buzzing Mutare.

I’ve just received this message from a student . . .

Some jet fighters are flying so low here in Mutare. Do you have any idea what is going on? We are so frightened.

As we approach Zimbabwe’s 29 March elections Phillip Pasirayi poses some fundamental questions:

“You can vote for them [MDC] but that will be a wasted vote. You will be cheating yourself as there is no way we can allow them to rule this country. The MDC will not rule this country. It will never ever happen.”
- President Robert Mugabe, March 2008

We will be naive to still think that the impending Saturday election in Zimbabwe will be free and fair and in conformity with the SADC Guidelines governing democratic elections to which Zimbabwe is a State Party. The above epigraph from the octogenarian Mugabe means that the election is already fixed and that Mugabe’s surrogates at the so-called National Command Centre will announce Mugabe as the winner. It is time that pro-democracy and civic groups start preparing for civil disobedience and demand the restoration of their vote. The civic movement must increase pressure that will make it difficult for Mugabe to govern and prepare the ground for referral of the Zimbabwe case to the UN Security Council. Already the humanitarian catastrophe in Zimbabwe warrants Zimbabwe’s referral to the UN and this flawed election presents a unique opportunity that must act as a precipitant for UN intervention.

Zimbabweans have been through a number of rigged elections and stolen votes. Each time we’ve seen a complete lack of leadership from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) when the results have been announced.

Will the MDC’s response to this election be any different?

She was so badly beaten across her breasts that they swelled for days and later pus accumulated inside them. She had to visit the hospital everyday for almost a week to get the pus squeezed out. Jane* had committed the “serious crime” of participating in a demonstration to demand that the voices of ordinary Zimbabweans be included in the SADC mediated talks.

Little Trish may well go down in the annals of this country as among the youngest individuals ever to be arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Only 3 months old and with only two nappies at hand, she and her mother were illegally detained for four days in prison. Learning of this cruelty through the media, well-wishers donated some nappies but the police decided Trish had no right to clean diapers and kept them away.

This is what life has typically become for members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA – meaning “come forward”). Illegal detentions, assault, death threats, physical and mental torture, humiliating and degrading treatment, you name it. Anything to break the spirit of these human rights defenders who’ve succeeded in becoming a nuisance to state agents while fighting for the rights of all of us.

These women are often incarcerated in extremely bad conditions where they are deliberately crowded into police cells designed for much smaller numbers. The cells are filthy, containing human excrement, fleas and lice. The blankets – if provided – are in the same condition. The toilet normally doesn’t flush and the women are denied sanitary pads.

In detention they also undergo degrading treatment like being forced to remove underwear – a particular fetish for some police officers. They are tortured through falanga – beating the feet soles of their feet, or are made to stand for long periods with bent knees (known as air chairs).

WOZA has thus just released a damning report: The Effects of Fighting Repression with Love that documents the nature and extent of violence experienced by WOZA at the hands of repressive state apparatus (police, army, and intelligence).

According to Wozani Moyo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, “The targeted abuse at WOZA is systematic and meant to weaken democratic movement in the country.” It is also meant to intimidate and deter them from participating in further civic action.

But WOZA women are determined. They have persevered in spite of recurrent harassment and mistreatment. They withstand the pain and are prepared to suffer anytime for the sake of a brighter future for their children, and to stand up for their rights. According to WOZA, this is “tough love” which is an appropriate response to the crisis in Zimbabwe and a cause to apply pressure upon the Zimbabwe government through peaceful protest.

The report not only seeks to document abuses against WOZA women; it also aims to bring to the attention of Zimbabweans and the international community at large their bravery in trying to make a difference.

With a membership of over 55 000, WOZA continue on their journey to demand freedom chanting slogans like Strike A Woman, Strike A Rock!

*Not her real name