Zimbabwe: Chamisa’s [de]fault line – A look into the “update on the resolution of the disputed August 2023 elections”

I have prepared this brief statement to update you on the efforts around the resolution

of the disputed outcome of the August 2023 general elections that did not produce a

credible and legitimate government chosen by the citizens of Zimbabwe” – Nelson Chamisa (27.05.2024).

Today, Nelson Chamisa, the vastly important opposition leader in Zimbabwe published a three pages update on the resolution in regards to the August 2023 Elections. The elections that ensured legitimacy for a second term for President Mnangagwa. It has also given more power to ZANU-PF and briefcase opposition leaders who has dismantled the CCC, piece by piece. Just like it was done in the previous term with the MDC-Alliance.

Chamisa seems to be futile and lack proper choices for his movement. There isn’t much meat or anything digestible from the update. It just shows that it’s all thoughts and prayers. We know there is a lack of proper resolutions or built up on your own…

When Chamisa says this: “On the 29th of April, however, since considerable time has passed, yet we had sought to resolve this issue much earlier, we delivered our follow-up to SADC for which we await a response to determine a clear path forward to resolve the governance crisis and leadership dispute. Our request to SADC was and remains very simple, that, as the regional body which

Zimbabwe has signed up for membership and vested some authority in the supranational

intergovernmental organization, we require their facilitation to peacefully resolve the

issues around the irregular and disputed elections” (Chamisa, 27.05.2024).

He has petitioned the SADC, but that regional body won’t touch or deal with the August 2023 Elections. That is well known and isn’t news. The only thing Chamisa can get is sympathy and advice for the authorities and the electoral bodies. Alas, the actions and the laws will be implemented by the Zimbabwean government itself. We have seen this movie before… and it isn’t funny. SADC can be called upon, but it won’t save you and has no interest in doing so. It serves the “elected” leadership and won’t challenge that.

Chamisa continues: “We reiterate this point to SADC, the AU and indeed to the international community, that it is untidy and untenable to sanitize or fertilize theft of elections and electoral

malpractices by turning a deaf ear and casting a blind eye to matters of gigantic electoral fraud. Such is an afront to “the Africa we want”. As you are aware, elections are the highest level through which a mandate is attained or ascertained as a contract between the governing and the governed. No government can justly claim authority to govern unless it is based on the will and consent of the people” (Chamisa, 27.05.2024).

Chamisa isn’t wrong with what he writes or says. We are several who has written the same. But he should know that the SADC and AU won’t come with salvation or hope. They will only condemn and move on. There is nothing they will bring to the table or change anything. That has to happen from within. This is why Chamisa is on a fool’s errand in this regard. The ideals and the words he writes are the truth, but they don’t carry weight when there is no internal resolve.

He continues: “Our beautiful country can never progress on the back of disunity and successive disputed national processes including contested elections. We are acutely aware of the urgency

of this matter and more importantly that there can never be any talk of 2028 or a viable and stable future for this country without resolving August 2023, the broken past, and disputed politics. It remains our hope and indeed your hope that all these concerns will be addressed with urgency and seriousness” (Chamisa, 27.05.2024).

As we see, he himself just petitions and asks for outside entities to bring remedies. While now striking a cord that there is a need for change within. There is only talk of creating a new election and making it credible. However, ZANU-PF and Mnangagwa won’t risk that or deliver this. That isn’t in their interests and Chamisa knows this. That’s why he has lost MDC-Alliance and the CCC. This is what ZANU-PF has created and Chamisa has nowhere to hide. Neither is it creating any uprising or will to revolt. There is no signs of that… and distrust of government is natural when you live on a lie, but that won’t make the citizens spark in fury over night.

It is so unique that he ends like this: “I therefore urge you to take an active role in peacefully determining the destiny of our country. I exhort you, fellow citizens, the intercessors, and the church, to continue to pray for a smooth and peaceful transition in our country. Stay the course, hold the fort, hold fast and stand involved. Stand ready. Change is upon us” (Chamisa, 27.05.2024).

It is hard reading this paragraph after publishing an update calling upon SADC and the AU. That’s who he called upon and wanted some resolve from, but isn’t getting. Alas, after all of that he asks for people or the citizens to participate, but he himself haven’t talked about or directed where they should act upon it. Neither is there a guidelines or memorandum that shows where he wants people to go. There is a need for what he says…

We know the ZANU-PF won’t fear this update or Chamisa. Neither will they be worried about SADC or AU. They will not touch the leaders of Harare. No they are shielded and safe. Chamisa should focus on building momentum and a movement that cannot be hijacked by the ZANU-PF. That’s what he needs to build and an organization that cannot be touched or used by puppets of regime. This is where his energy should go… unless he wants to be a voice of a revolution. Because, right now… his to moderate and seems to bewildered about the situation his in. Peace.

Opinion: Sunak’s misguided campaign…

The General Election cannot come fast enough for the Conservative Party or the Tories. They are scrambling and wobbling ahead of the polls. The Prime Minister and his team is certainly throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks.

The sorry souls that has to sell the stories and pledges must feel the pain. This is self suffering and self inflicted pain. The wounds created are by own action. If it is travelling to Wales, being at the Shipyard for Titanic or announcing the snap elections in the rain. That’s what Sunak does and he isn’t get lot of help either.

The Tories in the hours after announcing the General Elections saw a massive fall of Members of Parliament who didn’t want to stand for re-election. Meaning they weren’t prepared to campaign and use their familiarity with voters to get re-elected. Therefore, the Tories have to find candidates and people who wants be on the ticket quickly ahead of the polls. You would think these things where coordinated within the party, but it doesn’t look that way.

The party who has ruled the nation for 14 years. Seems to be out of ideas or ways to prove willingly to govern. That’s why they are re-issuing old strategies and campaign pledges, because who thinks offering the youth “National Service” will help them to vote for the Tories. This is making anyone around 18 or close wanting to vote for other parties. They have a cause and reason to rebuke the Tories now. They either fear to be directly enlisted in the army or forced to “volunteer” in their community. Therefore, they are becoming “free labour” and used to where the government fails to build government services. That’s not a good look, but a proof of how the Tories has failed society and youths who suddenly has to be used for this sort of “work”.

Sunak is risking everything on this, his team is peddling it and saying various of things. Some says its all volunteering, but others state it will be sanctioned or the ones not participating will be penalized. Meaning this is forcing themselves on the youths to possibly fix problems the Tories themselves has created. The cost of living crisis and lack of control of the inflation, the added costs and burden on citizens are because of policies like Brexit. That’s all on the Tories and their ideals, which the youths are supposed to cover for now. This is disingenuous and shows the lack of heart from the ruling party.

The Prime Minister should know better, as they are the cause and the affect. They are the ones that has changed the wind and decided to control the wind. These people wants now other create more wind and hoping someone else is putting up the windmills to create electricity. However, that is job of Tories and not the youth they are now pinning to fix the lack priorities of the state.

The Tories cannot be serious pushing for the National Service now. That’s how they resolve matters and plans for the future. They are selling the future generations on the altar of their failures. Instead of looking into the inept and badly planned efforts of own governing policies. The Tories hope the citizens are sold on the idea of the youths forced to “work” for the government locally. That’s how messed up the Tories is.

The entitlement and the arrogance of the Tories pushing this. They want the poor and the ones who are suffering to either send their kids to the army or have them work for fellow peers. We won’t see the elites on the battlefields or on the front-lines of the neighbourhoods. No, they will be in Ibiza or enjoying perks other far-away lands. Peace.

South Sudan: R-JMEC worried about the lack of progress in regards to hold credible elections…

As you may recall, in March this year, RJMEC wrote to the Executive of the RTGoNU expressing its concerns on the lack of consensus on the prospects of conducting credible elections as scheduled in December 2024, and called for urgent inter-party dialogue on the way forward, in the spirit of collegiality and consensus, as per the requirement of the R-ARCSS. It is therefore important that the interparty dialogue be expedited to provide clarity on the way forward. This would help the South Sudanese to prepare sufficiently and enable timely mobilisation of resources by the regional and international community to support the process” (…) “It is concerning that barely seven months to the elections, there is still no evidence of sufficient preparation for the conduct of elections and implementation of critical election-related tasks” (R-JMEC – ‘STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. MAJ GEN (rtd) CHARLES TAI GITUAI CBS INTERIM CHAIRPERSON – RJMEC TO THE 35TH RJMEC MONTHLY MEETING, THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2024 JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN, 23.05.2024).

The SPLM and the allies of J-1 should listen in to the R-JMEC. The statement released yesterday by the Interim Chairman Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, which describes a worrying sign and signals the lack of institutionalization of the state and laws ahead of the December 2024 elections. There is only a few months and the R-TGoNU and R-ARCSS haven’t been fulfilled. Therefore, it will be a hollow election with lack of paperwork and framework to be credible.

If President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his associates thinks this is a good idea. That he pushed the election and get the nod to be legitimately elected in this atmosphere. The nature of things might become even more fickle. The narratives will run crazy and around, as there is a lack of trust or credibility. Therefore, the Head of State that is used to live on decree. He needs to rethink and reconfigure, if he wants to be a sincere leader.

This here is about the lack of progress, the lack of will and the stalling. The R-TGoNU and the slow movement of the mechanisms regarding the R-ARCSS. The state has stopped and haven’t tried to fix the needed things ahead of the elections. They have been busy looting, eating or scheming. If not sending cash to Nairobi or elsewhere where they can live like Kings. Because, in Juba and other regions of the state. There is a lack of government services and proof of changes after the meetings abroad.

The talks is happening outside of the nation. They are meeting stakeholders in conferences and huge mediation forums, instead of trying to fix the nation from within. It is better infrastructure and possibilities elsewhere, but that is a sign of how the government has failed. The SPLM and the other parts of government needs to act upon this.

The R-JMEC warning should be the final straw. It is should be a reason to act in haste. Now is a time to move quickly and assess the situation even further. That’s if J-1 or anyone else in power wants legitimacy with the election in December 2024. The few months ahead. Just about a half-year is left before the polls are on.

There been so much postponement and the transitional period has just lasted and laster. It seemed like a never ending story. If Kiir and his associates pushed for these polls. That will not help him and only damage his reputation. As his forcing himself on the people and it won’t be a credible affair. Peace.

United Kingdom: The Prime Minister’s biggest gamble…

Yesterday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the Snap elections would take place on the 4th July 2024. That happens after the Opposition and petitions has been vocal about holding elections for a long time.

The Prime Minister and his party is running out of steam. They lack resolve and finding positive means for the future. The 14 years in power haven’t served the state well or the state of affairs for that matter. The United Kingdom is wrecking itself and self-inflicting wounds.

The Tories will struggle and possibly be hurt by more far-right parties like Reform UK and such, as the Tories has gone in this direction over the least few years. While the public haven’t all gone that way.

The Labour Party has instead become a Tory-Light party under Sir Keir Stramer and it will be interesting to see if it can muster enough support to topple the Tories. That’s because of the soft acts and how it will envision itself on a lighter side of the Tories.

Sunak maybe thinks this is a winning formula, as the Welsh and the Scottish will not be favourable for Tories. We have to see if the North England will save the Tories now, as they did during Boris Johnson. Meanwhile Sunak haven’t oozed confidence or trust. That’s why Rishi will struggle to sell the vision or the pledges to the public.

The Tories have proven that they are more into actually running the nation, versus serving the nation. That’s why they haven’t helped in the cost-of-living crisis and used migration reform as a way of masking their inept actions in this regard. They rather vilify outsiders seeking asylum, than trying to fix inflation or trying to better the economy of the constituents. Therefore, this election is a BIG RISK.

The PM isn’t coming in with a victory or a possible good reputation. No, he comes in with the possibility of chaos and more trouble. The current government under the Tories haven’t challenged or been there for the important legislation. That’s why the Tories was never prepared for the damage the Brexit would do, but they had to live on a lie in regard to it. This just shows how they run the government and how they don’t care about the consequences. That’s why the borders and the customs was never prepared about it. It is really amazing that they had the prestige of doing so but haven’t acted upon it.

The PM risks everything as he challenges the citizens to vote. The United Kingdom will see a reckoning of epic proportions. That is what is on the horizon. There will be changes and the Tories might be very damaged. Not only by the Labour Party, but by the Reform party too. The Greens and Lib-Dems might come in with a bigger mandate too, as there are independent voters who is questioning the Stramer’s Labour party. Therefore, things aren’t written in stone…

PM Sunak is now throwing a wrecking-ball and hoping he can get ahead of the rest. However, most likely… not. The Tories have broken the trust with so many people and showed their arrogance. The years in office and in power has distorted their ideas and policies regarding the public. Therefore, the citizens should go elsewhere hoping they have other thoughts and possible solutions. Because the Tories aren’t there to save anyone, but themselves. Peace.

Tchad: Cadre Permanent de Concertation et de Reflexion (CPCR) des mouvements de l’opposition politico-militaires et allies – A Propos de l’Election Presidentielle au Tchad (12.05.2024)

South Africa: African Transformation Movement (ATM), Office of the President, Vuyo Zungula MP letter to Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission – “Concerns Regarding ZANU PF’s Involvement in Observering South African Elections (10.05.2024)

Tchad: The Procedural “Victory” of Gen. Kaka was proclaimed…

Mahamat Kaka declared president, his rival calls for demonstrations. Mahamat Kaka Idriss Déby was officially declared president of Chad this Thursday, following the May 6 presidential election. However, its main opponent, Succès Masra, rejects the results and calls for a protest demonstration tomorrow. He claims to be the real winner of the vote and accuses the authorities of fraud” (AES Info. 10.05.2024).

I wrote a piece back in March 2024, because the actions of N’Djamena was so obvious. The naked eye could read the room and see the future. That’s why I will reference first my own thoughts from months ago before discussing the actions of the state this week.

The 6th May Election is already fixed and we have the tandem of competition. That being Mouvement Patriotique du Salut (MPS) Gen. Mahamat “Kaka” Idriss Deby Itno, the interim President going into his “first” legitimate term. The one that will be his main challenger is appointed Prime Minister Succès Masra from the opposition party (Les Transformateurs) or the Transformers Party. He was appointed recently and made Kinshasa Accords that gave him a reason to return after being in exile. Not long after returning he was appointed to be come the PM” (Minbane, 04.03.2024).

In the nation of Thousands of Generals, the Junta and the Dynasty would never risk to lose to anyone. There are speculations that the results of the 6th May of 2024 polls was rigged. The prolonged silence and lack of publication of results isn’t helping the government. That only undermines the election and the integrity of it. Alas, this could be a pre-fix and make the “results believable”.

Yes, Gen. Kaka won, but not by a huge majority. To make it look sincere, but we all have questions. Because, is he really this popular and would he have “won” without the authorities on his side?

Masra can have a case, but his Kinshasa Accords and accepting the Office of the Prime Minister. Made him a tool for legitimacy and a way of giving the junta some popular support. He gave them a name and a face, which wasn’t just the clan and the commanders of the state. Gen. Kaka can be happy that he got Masra for cheap and he made the campaigning believable.

It is like I feared and he played the game to a T. This is the sort of play to outsmart and outplay the opposition. Giving them a bone and hoping they believe the words. It is only words and not law. Therefore, the betrayal can happen at night and silence the ones who he really fears. That’s why Dillo was assassinated ahead of the polls. They knew they could trick Masra and he was a willing participant. Nevertheless, the election moved on and he played his part.

Now the transition from father to son is fulfilled. The authorities and the state has geared it all in. The apparatus is in motion and the moment of “swearing-in” will seal it all. That’s when the Deby’s continues there power in Tchad.

Gen. Kaka was made to “win” and there was no surprises here. Masra was bound to “loose” and anyone else on the ballot only gave the General some weight. They all where just puppets for the game and he would stop them regardless.

It is tragic and to see this happening yet again. The will of the people doesn’t matter when the authorities and the state has their anointed one. The one that they will ensure his reign. That’s because the state is personalized and not institutionalized.

Gen Kaka couldn’t loose and it shows… the way the mechanisms went ahead and the silence until the announcement. It just shows how they had to alter and work on overtime to make a believable results. However, we know the game and it is rigged for the one and only. Peace.

Tchad: Succès Masra – Tout est Accompli, la Victoire du Peuple est Eclatante – Message a la Nation du 09 Mai 2024 (09.05.2024)

Tchad: Djmaat Ansar Al-Sunna Al-Mohamadiya Au Tchad – Declaration generale de l’opinion national (gouvernement et peuple) – (02.05.2024)

Somaliland: Waddani Party – Murder, Torture and Illegal Detentions (24.04.2024)