ZHRMP analyses roadmap to 2023 elections

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform (ZHRMP) has said as the country is heading towards the 2023 elections, there is a lot hanging on the recommendation of the Monhlante commission and the 2018 election local and international observer recommendations.

In this edition of its National Election Watch (NEW), the organisation observed that human rights violations ahead of the 2023 elections have rapidly increased and said ZANU PF is responsible for 60% of the actively recorded cases.

The report said the police force has contributed 25 %, through arbitrary arrests and police brutality, while the Central Intelligence and military have jointly contributed 10 % through abductions and torture of activists and opposition leaders and CCC is responsible for 5%.

ZHRMP notes that the Judiciary has equally been responsible for human rights violations through selective application of the law in terms of bail rulings for activist and opposition leaders.

On the other hand, it notes that the ruling party has heightened its pursuit of political dominance as elections draw nearer.

“We maintain that ZANU PF has been using its proximity to power in executing a campaign aimed at repressing the opposition and intimidating the electorate. At this rate and gravity, we believe that the situation might turn out to be similar to that of 2008 when thousands of people were killed as a result of political violence. As for the police, they have noticeably used selective application of laws and excessive force. The ZRP continues to be the implementing arm of the ruling party’s repression agenda, thereby aiding the closure of the democratic space.

“The general outlook of such actions portrays a behavioral logic of a defacto one party state operation. As for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, they remain on the receiving end of political violence. Recorded cases show that since March nearly 200 opposition activists and leaders have been either harassed, abducted, arrested, or murdered. Notable examples are those of Mboneni Ncube, Bangelihle Dube, and Moreblessing Ali. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform documented a worrying 7 murder cases, 30 cases of police brutality, 95 cases of arbitrary arrests, and 50 cases of intimidation and assault recorded. The signs of politically motivated death in the by-election are frightful as we head to the 2023 election where the democratic space is closed and citizens will be denied their fundamental rights to participate freely in democratic processes. This leaves the general citizenry vulnerable and susceptible to abuse by political actors, while elections will be far from fair or free,” the report said.

Recommendations

• The United Nations must intervene and oversee the 2023 election as all local institutions have proven incapable of delivering a free and fair election.
• Progressive political parties must join forces in advocating for electoral reforms.
• Civil Society must amplify the call for reforms before 2023.
• Parliament must take up its watchdog position and ensure it holds the executive accountable for following the constitution of the land.
• The judiciary must bring all perpetrators of violence to book (including those protected by the executive, security forces, or the ruling party).
• We call for a multi-party liaison committee to be involved in all election administration processes of ZEC that include the audit of the voters roll by a competent audit firm, profiling of all ZEC staff, recruitment of the logistics team, purchase of election material, and overseeing the 6 months election framework/ work plan.
• The dismissal of the current ZEC commission and replacement by an independent, impartial commission agreed by all political actors with CSOs mandated to observe the recruitment process.
• Independence of the judiciary and disbanding of the current Judiciary service commission and Chief Justice and ensuring an independent judiciary.
• Release of all political prisoners, and ensure quick delivery of justice to all political involved cases. The current environment doesn’t guarantee free, fair contest as the law is used to persecute political opponents.