FEARS persist that security forces will try to influence the outcome of the July 31 elections largely because of partisan statements by commanders backing President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.
Southern Eye Editorial
An unusually high number of both serving and retired police officers, soldiers and operatives of the Central Intelligence Organisation is seeking election as councillors and MPs on a Zanu PF ticket.
The motivation for these servicemen is clear and that is to save a party that has given them special treatment ahead of Zimbabweans who have suffered for long.
Therefore, the stakes in this election will be very high and some are likely to resort to dirty tactics.
There have been persistent reports of soldiers, prison and police officers being forced to register as voters so that they can vote for Zanu PF. Similar reports were prevalent during the 2008 presidential runoff election which was dismissed as a fraud by the international community, principally because of the unorthodox involvement of the security forces in Mugabe’s campaign.
It is against that background that we call upon on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to investigate the discrepancies in the number of police officers the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) want accorded the special voting privileges between July 14 and 15.
ZRP, through its spokesperson Charity Charamba, last week said it had requested 50 000 special voting application forms to cater for the regular police force and constabulary members.
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However, ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau on Monday told journalists that about 70 000 police officers had requested to be considered as special voters. Naturally the discrepancies in the figures will raise eyebrows, considering the stance by ZRP Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and his commanders who have been openly campaigning for Mugabe and Zanu PF. ZEC must explain to the nation why ZRP had not accounted for the 20 000 cops that have suddenly surfaced ahead of the voting on Sunday and Monday.
Failure to do this will put a further dent on the July 31 poll, which is already being undermined by a flawed voters’ roll and Mugabe’s penchant for unilateralism. ZEC would be under severe scrutiny as we trudge towards the polls and the ZRP case provides the real test to show that the commission is committed to a free and fair poll. To make it easier for everyone, the ZRP must tell the nation how many officers it has in its ranks as the figure has also become a source of dispute.
Zimbabweans and the world at large would not tolerate another stolen election.
