Former Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa says there is a political crisis in Zimbabwe, which should be resolved by the Southern African Development Community that among many election observers noted that the 2023 general election was not free, fair and credible.
Chamisa told journalists in Harare today that he contacted SADC at the end of last month to make a followup on resolving what he terms an electoral fraud and “we have advisedly been patiently waiting on our request” to determine a clear path forward to tackle the governance crisis and leadership dispute.
He said, “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.
The problem of the manipulated elections that produced a government without a mandate from the citizens has since culminated into high levels of intolerance, violations, repression, illegal recalls of citizen representatives (of the very same disputed election, in itself, an unprecedented move and an encyclopedic infraction of democratic tenets) unlawful arrests and persecution of citizens upon all other kinds of archaic intimidatory and suppressive manifestations of the lack of mandate.”
Chamisa said Zimbabwe is facing a plethora of problems. “Most of them are basic and symptomatic of bad governance, broken politics, and disputed leadership. We have a tanking economy; systemic corruption; 49% of the population living in extreme poverty; USD$1,8bn lost to looting annually; USD$100m worth of gold smuggled monthly; galloping hyperinflation; half of the population that is food insecure; over 3 million Zimbabweans forced to migrate; 89% unemployment; and disputed national processes and elections.”
He said only a legitimate government chosen by the citizens has both the confidence and
mandate to deliver on their necessities and demands.
“You voted for a government that would deliver healthcare, energy, water, jobs, stable currency, quality education and other basic services. You know why you voted for change. The current challenges of failing to resolve the huge national debt, high inflation, currency distortions, drought, starvation, poverty, poor income, the hostile political environment, an air of sadness and brain drain are all symptoms of a government without a proper mandate. Zimbabwe’s challenges are a direct result of the lack of legitimacy and mandate to govern.”
He also noted that “a truly elected citizen government is the solution for good governance and service delivery. 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.’”
Chamisa said no government can justly claim authority to govern unless it is based on the will and consent of the people.
He further condemned the recalling of his elected party members from parliament and councils saying Zanu PF used some people “to come into office through the backdoor, the
window, cohesive means or command antics and tactics.”
Defacto CCC secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu recalled a large number of lawmakers and councillors claiming that they were wrongly elected. Critics say Tshabangu is working hand-in-glove with the ruling Zanu PF. But Tshabangu has denied that he is linked with the former liberation movement.
On the other hand, Zanu PF has dismissed Chamisa’s remarks that Zimbabwe is facing a political and economic crisis.
The party’s information and communications director Farai Mharapira told VOA Zimbabwe Service that “what Chamisa is talking about is all in his head. There is no political and or economic crisis in Zimbabwe.”