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Zimbabwe: Run-Off Extension Benefits All
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
EDITORIAL
16 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008
NOW that ZEC has announced, within the confines of the law, that the presidential run-off will be held within 90 days beginning May 2, it's all systems go for the two main political parties and their candidates for the run-off.
We are unofficially in campaign mode since the suffrage is to be held no later than July 31. All we wait for now is the promulgation of the actual date of the election and the official campaign period. We take this opportunity to reiterate that this is a Zimbabwean election and no outsider has any say except by invitation.
Even though we are cognisant of the fact that Zimbabwe is just the stage for a fight between the forces of neo-colonialism and African nationalism, we do not cede our sovereignty on that score.
Many may have noticed the comical flip-flopping in the opposition. Before the extension, the Anglo-Saxon alliance and the MDC-T leadership were stipulating conditions for the run-off claiming the environment was not conducive for a free and fair poll. In other words, they were against the run-off.
In the wake of ZEC's announcement that the run-off period has been extended to 90 days, as if on cue the MDC-T and its allies are now demanding an expeditious run-off saying they wanted it as of yesterday.
So what exactly do they want?
While the temptation would be to say they do not know what they want, it is clear that they know exactly what they want, giving Zimbabwe a bad name for no reason.
Let that be a lesson to the voters.
We take this opportunity to applaud ZEC for extending the run-off as the decision has many positive spin-offs.
It is evident that there are many issues that need resolving from the March 29 poll, among them the 105 election petitions filed by Zanu-PF and MDC-T candidates.
Some of the ballot boxes to be used in the run-off contain material integral to the determination of those petitions.
Opening and emptying them will not serve the demands of justice.
Those shouting loudest against the extension would do well to remember that were it not for their illegal sanctions, Zimbabwe would have the capacity to purchase even a new set of boxes.
Secondly, pushing the run-off to a later date, possibly late July, will not disrupt learning in schools, many of which will be used as polling and counting centres.
Thirdly, after the way the election was hijacked by dark forces on March 29, there is need to put in adequate safeguards to ensure that whoever wins the run-off, does so on the strength of a legitimate mandate.
We also hail Zanu-PF for condemning all perpetrators of violence and challenge the opposition leadership to do the same. A mere cataloguing of unsubstantiated claims of violence is not enough.
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There is no substitute to safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot.
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