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By Lloyd Rabaya
A dark cloud of uncertainty is hovering around Zimbabwe after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) allegedly announced fraudulent results of the elections held from 23 to 24 August, according to opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba.
This came out at a post-election assessment meeting held yesterday by non-governmental Organization Heal Zimbabwe to evaluate the possibility of an inclusive national dialogue.
Ostallos said the uncertainty is a threat to sustainable peace, and two things best describe the current Zimbabwean situation, greed and grievance.
“Those are essential ingredients and direct threats to peace and stability in our country.
We are being led by a parasitic elite that has so much greed for power, but that greed for power in itself will mutate into a collective grievance by ordinary people,” he said.
Following the announcement of the harmonised elections results on the night of August 26, the CCC alleged that the presidential results announced by ZEC were false as ZANU-PF had allegedly rigged the election in connivance with ZEC, in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF garnered 52.6% compared to CCC Nelson Chamisa’s 44%.
The election period was marred by illegitimacy and an unlevel political playing field, and according to the SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM),” some aspects of the Harmonised Elections fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections (2021).”
This lack of credibility and cheating, according to Ostallos, is a recipe for disaster.
“That grievance will go into the pockets of teachers, doctors, and junior soldiers, and that will lead to a threat to stability and peace in our country.
Having an election that does not reflect on the will of people as announced by ZEC directs Zimbabwe into a cloud of uncertainty and direct threat to peace in our country, ” he added.
Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) President Linda Masarira weighed in saying Zimbabweans have always been enjoying artificial peace, which is emanates from the fear the public has.