From Bulawayo Agenda:

Villagers in the remote area of Madlambuzi in Plumtree are being forced by their village heads to sign the anti sanctions petition. The petition is a ZANU PF project headed by the self proclaimed war veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda. The party is targeting more than one million signatures on the petition, which shall be presented to the three principals in the inclusive government. The unsuspecting villagers are allegedly told to sign without questioning the contents of the petition.  Anti-sanction fliers are also being distributed by ZimPapers. Sunday Newspaper readers were surprised on Sunday morning to find anti-sanction fliers inside the newspaper, a clear indication that Zanu PF is not joking about the removal of sanctions.

This statement from the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) further discusses some of the violence experienced in Zimbabwe’s capital yesterday:

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) condemns in the strongest terms reports that youths suspected to belong to a certain political party destroyed large copies of NewsDay and harassed newspaper vendors from the stable in and around the city of Harare today.

The VMCZ notes with serious concern that this unwarranted intimidation of Newsday vendors is undemocratic and inimical to freedom of expression. It is our considered view that where citizens are against contents of a publication, or a media house, they should seek recourse either through the Media Complaints Committee under the auspices of VMCZ.

VMCZ  therefore urges those that are behind today’s barbaric actions to refrain from destroying the newspapers and harassing vendors who are going about in their daily duties but should instead allow the free flow of information in the country.

This is particularly important given that Article 19 of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) recognizes the importance of the right to freedom of expression and the role played by a free media in a multi-party democracy. It is therefore important that newspaper vendors, journalists and media publishing houses be allowed to continue their professional duties without any hindrance.

VMCZ strongly urges the Zimbabwe Republic Police to fully and impartially investigate the incidences of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call upon all political parties in the country to warn their supporters to refrain from attacking newspaper vendors and destroying newspapers as this infringes on freedom of expression and denies Zimbabweans an opportunity to have multiple sources of information.

A recent statement from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition reminds us of this quotation from Robert Mugabe at Zimbabwe’s independence:

“Democracy is never mob rule. It is and should remain disciplined rule requiring compliance with the law and social rules. Our independence must thus not be construed as an instrument vesting individuals or groups with the rights to harass and intimidate others into acting against their will.” – Robert Mugabe, April 17, 1980

Read more from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

In the office we’ve been speaking about the value of public opinion and public confidence – and how difficult it can be to regain these precious intangibles once they’re lost. In addition to public confidence in a person, organisation or political party, there is also the question of confidence in a process and faith in social institutions. When you go and vote – despite the risks and your own sense of fear – and that vote is then disregarded for a political settlement instead of an elected outcome, what damage does this do to your faith in the country’s democratic institutions? How can this ever be repaired? And until it’s repaired, what point is there in continuing to hold elections?

We shared Upenyu’s piece Why should I vote? with our email subscribers today, and I include one of the replies below. What’s the difference between apathy and laziness? And between apathy and a calculated assessment that because one’s action is disregarded, it makes more sense not to act.

I have voted consistently since I became eligible to vote and my first vote was cast in the referendum of 2000. My father always says you should not complain about the state of affairs in your country if you do not do something. So I figured I would make my voice heard through the ballot since I was not brave enough to march in the streets or be a war vet.

I am fast losing hope in the power of my voice being heard through the ballot. I went to vote in 2008 with heart pounding and ID concealed so that the youths who were beating drums and chanting slogans at a nearby party office would not know that l was going to cast my vote without being vetted. Two years later after the formation of the inclusive government and the performance of both parties in govt, I am tempted to agree with Upenyu and throw in the towel. I guess l will just leave everything in God’s hands and hope for the best.

Lazybones.

Zimbabwe is abuzz with talk of elections and the referendum. It seems the electorate will have a very busy year ahead of them. I must confess that I don’t count myself among the electorate; I’ve never registered to vote.

I imagine I’m not the only youth aged 18 to 35 who hasn’t registered to vote. Neither am I the only one who isn’t remotely inclined. Answer me this MKD, ZAPU, ZANU PF and MDC-whoever, why should I bother to vote?

Voting is supposed to be part of a democratic process where, after much consideration of the available candidates, a citizen may choose one whom he or she feels most addresses their issues. But after much consideration of the candidates available to me, frankly, I’d rather not participate. I do want change; I do want to be a part of something greater than myself. I have high hopes for Zimbabwe, but I find that these hopes are often choked by the reality of my day-to-day existence.

Everyday I am confronted by a kind of lawlessness. >From the Kombi drivers, who know no rules, to businessmen who shamelessly ransom basic necessities citing mythological taxes. And what are my City Councillor and Member of Parliament, who promised me a return to the Sunshine City in the Bread Basket of Africa doing about this? Nothing. When I read about ministers who unashamedly steal in broad daylight, and get away with it, it begins to make sense, none of these people care about me, or this country.

Once when I was younger, and caught up in an idealistic fervour I did believe that I could make a difference. That my vote was my right, and that my government was accountable to me and anyone else who answered to mwanawevhu. I am wiser now. Promises are made, and when the dust has settled, and the slogan charged rallies have ended they are forgotten.

I’m sure the people who cast their ballots in 2005 were full of hope that an election would bring water to their houses, doctors to their clinics, cheaper food into the shops and teachers back to their children’s schools. It didn’t. In 2008 they were beaten for taking the trouble, and their situation became worse. Why then would I want to participate in a process that legitimises the illegitimate, gives power to those without conscience and seems to only bring pain and suffering?

I am young, but I am no longer idealistic. I watched with envy Obama’s election campaign, as scores of young peopled chanted ‘yes we can’ marching in the streets on TV. They felt a sense of ownership of their country that I did once. I know better now. This is Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, and should he ever win, it will become Morgan’s Zimbabwe, but it will never be mine.

Below is an excerpt from a recently published Pastoral Letter from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference:

We urge our political leaders to:

i) Prioritize poverty eradication by using proceeds from natural resources like diamonds, land, etc., for the development of the whole nation and all its citizens. In its final message, the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops noted that Africa is rich in human and natural resources but ‘many of our people are still left to wallow in poverty and misery, wars and conflicts, crisis and chaos. These are very rarely caused by natural disasters. They are largely due to human decisions and activities by people who have no regard for the common good … .’
(No. 5).

ii) Stop the active and tacit collusion of those undermining the fight against corruption. Corruption is a cancer destroying our nation.

iii) Prosecute wrong doers and widely publicize any disciplinary action so that no one is seen to commit crime with impunity.

iv) Desist from intimidating and mistreating members of the public, the media, civic communities, etc. Uphold human rights.

v) Uniformed forces should maintain peace and security for all citizens at all times and especially before, during and after elections, and do so impartially.

vi) We implore our political leadership in the coalition government to reflect deeply on the timing of elections bearing in mind the unhealed state of the nation and the fragile state of the economy. They shoulder a heavy responsibility to serve and save Zimbabwe. They must think and act in pursuit of the Common Good. In the event of elections, implement the SADC guidelines in full.

vii) We expect our members of Parliament to make an effort to spearhead the mitigation of the pressing needs of the people they represent and desist from being preoccupied with enriching themselves.