Statement of the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, his excellency H.E João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço on Zimbabwe’s harmonised elections, 30 July, 2018 (04.08.2018)

MISA Zimbabwe: Journalist detained by the army (04.08.2018)

Opinion: I didn’t know the MDC could order the army? – ZANU-PF charges them for doing so!

The winners of the 30th July 2018 polls have been the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and also their incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa who also win another term. But like so many other sham elections, they have to go on assault on the opposition to legitimize their own existence.

Because now the Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance (MDC Alliance) are under siege by the Zimbabwe Republican Police, who has put charges on 26 MDC Officials. This after the authorities ordered the army to quell demonstrations, which was fatal, the day after a shut-down of the streets and announcement of the Presidential Election. Finally, now mere days after making them criminal, as they are the arch enemy of the state for running against the ZANU-PF. Even as the Army had rifles and killed civilians demonstrating, still, they are roaming free; while the MDC is charged.

Police confirmed arresting 26 suspected MDC Alliance officials yesterday following the violent clashes in Harare on Wednesday which injured several people after the army used live ammunition to break the ugly demonstrations against alleged bias by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and delays in the release of Monday poll results. At the same time, police said it had obtained a warrant to search for grenades, firearms, ammunition and computers at the MDC headquarters” (Fungi Kwaramba & Jeffrey Muvundusi – ‘Crackdown on opposion MDC leaders’ 04.08.2018 link: http://nehandaradio.com/2018/08/03/crackdown-on-opposion-mdc-leaders/).

If you feel the pain of innocent civilians dying and the opposition is being automatically put as suspects, even as the most easily seen suspects are the ones pulling out on the streets with guns. Which was the army and the soldiers, not the civilians demonstrating a sham election. However, to able to silence the population and also stops voices of reason; they have to charge the opposition and put them on trial.

That is what is happening and the formula isn’t new, this is a usual way of securing an illegitimate government. This is an ordinary post-election paradigm, especial after a fatal demonstrations, where the culprits is the ones sending the orders and being in charge, but putting the blame on the opposition instead. Who was unarmed and was just mere civilians. That is what is happening.

If the ZANU-PF thinks they are wise with this, they are not, they are playing themselves and making a mockery out of rule of law. Where they have the guns, where they have the power and where they are besieging the public space. The narrow space is freedom is disappearing and it happens fast. While the charges is going on the MDC Alliance offices has been raided and the proof of the idle ignorance of justice is appearing.

That ZANU-PF is illegitimate is in the acts of how they govern, if they were honest and truthful, they wouldn’t haven’t acted in this fashion. However, they appearance is more of Mugabeism’s than anything. Mnangagwa is filling his void and Operation Restore Legacy is to damage and destroy the opposition. Just like his master wanted too.

It isn’t beautiful, it is tragic and shows the disgraceful attempt of heist. Steal a republic and blame the other guy. That is what is happening, they are robbing the public and doing it by the barrel of the gun. If you think things better, you get wrong, the civil liberties will be violated and Mnangagwa will be the Supreme Overlord! Peace.

OSISA: “In Zimbabwe, our grant-making and advocacy work does not fund or promote violence: A response to the Herald and The Chronicle newspapers” (03.08.2018)

Zimbabwe: ZRP – Dispersal of Journalists (03.08.2018)

Zimbabwe: ZESN’s Presidential Results Projection from Sample-Based Oberservation (03.08.2018)

My letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa after Yesterday’s ZEC Announcement!

Dear Honourable President Emmerson Mnangagwa!

I write to you today, because there is a need to do so. You know how it is when the Zimbos celebrate something. I am sure you remember the Solidarity March or the 2nd Independence Day on the 18th November 2018. When people together with the authorities celebrated the bloodless coup, where you and the Lacoste took power on the 15th November 2018.

Since then your been the man of hope and the future of Zimbabwe in a way. Even if you have the whole history and being a loyal cadre through the years under President Robert Mugabe. Still, people saw hope in you and your leadership. Because you let people demonstrate, you let people their freedoms and small, tiny bits of progress in the right directions. You haven’t had long time since November to do much. Neither do I believe you really tried, because you’re the old and entitled guard. Who expect to get it as it was done previously, that is why the elections have gone the way it did too.

So with yesterday’s announcement: “The result means Cde Mnangagwa won 50,8 percent of the total votes, while Mr Chamisa had 44,3 percent. The result satisfied the Constitutional requirement of 50 percent plus one vote for him to avoid a presidential run-off. “Now therefore, I Priscilla Makanyara Chigumba the chairperson of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of Section 110 (3)(f)(2) do hereby declare that the votes received by Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF party are more than half the number of votes cast in the Presidential Election, therefore Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF party is therefore duly declared elected President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with effect from August 3, 2018,” said Justice Chigumba” (The Herald – ‘ED Pfee with 51pc of the vote’ 03.08.2018).

Therefore, you have been announced the winner, as the party you rule also have the majority of the parliament. Meaning nothing changed with this election, nothing really significantly changed. None of the Solidarity March, none of the good public spirit. As you sent the army to the streets of the 1st August and on the second you blamed the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Just like you where the photocopy of Mugabe. He blamed Morgan Tsvangirai; you blame Nelson Chamisa, who knows the difference, right?

We know your party is jolly and full of confidence, when this is written in the Herald too:

“Ambassador Khaya Moyo said the victory could not have been delivered if it was not for the party’s listening President and his team. “Credit must go to the courageous, visionary and servant leadership of its President and First Secretary Cde ED Mnangagwa and the entire zanu-pf leadership at all levels including war veterans, ex-detainees, war collaborators and our versatile youth,” he said” (The Herald – ‘ZANU-PF salutes President for win’ 03.08.2018).

My issue Mr. President is this, if you really won, wouldn’t people be celebrating? Wouldn’t there be parties and marches like the ones in November 2017? Because right now it is utter silence and desperation. It is not a resounding victory and part of me, think you know it perfectly well too.

Because if you was confident and secure, you wouldn’t have had a total shutdown yesterday before the announcement of this. You wouldn’t have ordered the army to intimidate and secure silence. The army wouldn’t be out and about securing the victory, they would have secured the borders and not been in the streets. However, they were and that is the signal, which you knew what was up and did what you could to control it.

This elections have already been marred with problematic provisions, to the extent of different voter rolls, one used in the elections and one delivered to the parties, there been also a mismatch of voter-turnout in this regard. Now the crunching numbers by Civil Society and Stakeholders will take place, and certainly without a doubt. I am sure they will find some crucial issues with them, since the lack of transparency and lack of accountability, will come to the forefront again. While, also the real significant change of announcing the results two days before it was scheduled. Shows how rushed the numbers are for you and your party, as the others like MPs and Councillors was already out. Therefore, you cannot say that there was a level playing field, even a free and fair election. Since, you know, you know perfectly well, what occurred on your watch and you just ate it all, for the sense of another minute of power.

I wish we could see resembling forces like on the 18th November 2017, as the Victor would enjoy the bash and popular vote. However, with the use of arms and violence, with the use rhetoric and blame-game, that will not happen. That will not be real today, the sense of justified electorate and that the authorities listen to the people. Instead, they have done a hostile takeover and expect to get praise for doing so, that is just injustice in the purest form.

Mr. President, I wish I could have written you another letter, not this one. Because the Zimbos deserves better, they deserve a government that they truly elected and represent them. Not on that is hostile, sends the army at them and intimidate them. Than your not their representative, but their overlord. Is that who you are Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Overlord of Zimbabwe?

I just have to ask, because recent actions, show that you have the tendency… to resort to violence and killings… hope you made yourself proud, to crown yourself king, and made yourself the head of state. However, remember the crowds of November 2017?

They will not come for you, they are not yours to own, and they would have come for you; if they really had elected you. Peace.

Best Regards

Written by the Writer of Minbane,

3rd August 2018, Oslo.

Zimbabwe: MDC-T Statement (02.08.2018)

Zimbabwe: Total Shutdown of Harare and Bulawayo before ZEC Announcement tonight!

Yet again, the script of a rigged election is in fashion. As the Operation Restore Legacy is all out in the streets, the military have sent people away and said people to close shops today in Harare. This a day after the fatal demonstrations, where the soldiers killed civilians in the streets.

The day after both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, are blaming the opposition and not taking credit for ordering the soldiers to the streets. Harare is quiet and so in Bulawayo, where the army has taken over the streets. This is clearly to send the message.

As well as all of that, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) web-site have been since yesterday, therefore, nothing substantial of information about the release of results coming this evening. As the army is preparing to silence and secure the verdict. If it feels like sham and smells like a sham, it is because it is a sham. Nothing more nor less.

The deaths yesterday are pointless, as the lives taken are just showing the powerful force of the military, the same military that toppled Mugabe, but now silencing the streets. This is not policing, but ensuring silence. Intimidating the public. That is not good news, but securing the fate of the results.

There is no signs of redeeming factors from the regime, they are clearly awaiting securing their mandate, as they have already done in the Parliament, and they are just awaiting the Presidential Verdict. If that comes tonight, it is two days earlier, than what they planned too do. It was awaited on the 4th August and not tonight on the 2nd August 2018. Which is significantly quicker, certainly, yesterday’s activity was the reason for that.

What is striking to me, as when they speak of peace, it is after they ordered the soldiers and now tanks into the streets? The President himself wrote of patience and concern, but he blamed quickly the MDC Alliance for yesterday, just as if Chiwenga did today. Nevertheless, the MDC didn’t order the soldiers or send the army, that is what you did!

This is not fun and games, this is lives and livelihoods; this is about respecting the ballot, the will of the people and also make sure the elections goes smooth. No one makes smooth decisions with bullets and guns, no one makes sound judgements shooting bullets at civilians. That is just a mere slaughter of the innocent demonstrating public. Tendai Biti ordered to post himself at the Harare Central Police Station, too.

There is no way in my mind you can finesse that and make it feasible. None, no matter where you stand politically, when your armed to your teeth and shooting at civilians, your automatically on the wrong side of the barrel. There isn’t anything profound you can deliver, that change or makes a difference. There is only loss of lives and surge of reckless power in the air.

If Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, thinks it is wise to do this, then they know exactly what sort of play they are pulling. They have the army and government at their disposal. That is something people don’t have and not used to have. They are clearly under the same regime as before November 2017, just with some new faces. However, the same end of the stick, if they don’t follow the program. Peace.

Zimbabwe: ZLHR Calls for Peace and Respect of Human Rights (01.08.2018)