Mugabe would have found his voice back if his choice candidate and opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa had won the tightly contested election
Chamisa’s defeat means further defeat of Robert Mugabe
The dust seems to be settling after the Monday election Zimbabwe which produced Emmerson Mnangagwa as elected president after the long rule of Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe would have found his voice back if his choice candidate and opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa had won the tightly contested election. But Chamisa lost to Mugabe’s former party, ZANU-PF.
Opposition supporters who were arrested on Monday by the police in connection with bloody protest last Wednesday has been released on bail this morning after the police extracted certain information from them.
The nine senior officers of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance were alleged to have incited their supporters to stage an illegal demonstration last Wednesday, the state-owned Herald newspaper reports.
The MDC Alliance has rejected President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in the poll as a sham. The electoral commission says there was “absolutely no skulduggery”.
Six people died after the security forces and opposition supporters clashed in the capital, Harare, on Wednesday.
Among the MDC Alliance officials police are searching for are Tendai Biti, Morgan Komichi and Happymore Chidziva, the Herald reports.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the security forces and unidentified gunmen have carried out a series night-time raids at the home of opposition supporters.
Th BBC said masked men stormed the home of Mr Chidziva, the MDC Alliance youth leader, at 02:00 (00:00GMT) on Sunday, it added.
“A woman in the house told Human Rights Watch that when she screamed for help, one of the men pointed a rifle at her head and told her to be quiet or risk death. One of the men slapped and kicked her.
“The attackers also beat up members of three other families in the house, then abducted two of the men. The masked men put the abducted men in a white double-cab truck and drove them to a secluded place along Masvingo road, then beat and kicked them for an hour before releasing them,” the group said in a statement.
Zimbabwe: Zanu-PF poised to win majority in parliament
The ruling party in Zimbabwe, Zanu-PF is leading in the results so far released for parliamentary elections conducted alongside presidential election on Monday.
The BBC, quoting the Zimbabwe’s electoral umpire said the incomplete result showed ZANU-PF winning 110 seats and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) winning 41 seats in results so far released.
Monday’s polls attracted a high turnout of 70%.
On Tuesday, the opposition MDC Alliance said that vote had been rigged and that its candidate Nelson Chamisa had won.
The ruling party also claim the victory will swing their side. The electoral umpire has until Saturday to officially announce the winner of the presidential election.
However, analysis of political indices in the country point to the direction that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party is poised to win a substantial majority in Monday’s poll – the first elections since long-serving ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted.
The results of the presidential vote are yet to be released.
Overseas election monitoring teams are to issue their reports on the parliamentary and presidential poll later on Wednesday.
There are 210 seats in the National Assembly’s lower house.
voters filed out from early in the day to cast their votes of ‘change’; the very first ballot since over 37 years ago
Zimbabwe vote for new leader after 37 years of Mugabe
The long awaited Presidential election in Zimbabwe is today. And voters filed out from early in the day to cast their votes of ‘change’; the very first ballot since over 37 years ago which did not contain Robert Mugabe. To them, whoever wins the election, between incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa and the opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, Zimbabwe is going to experience change after Mugabe.
The BBC reports that so far, election day has gone smoothly across much of Zimbabwe. A fact that no-one in this turbulent country takes for granted.
“Voters, glad to see the back of Robert Mugabe, are talking about the need for change. For a fresh start”
The former ruler has thrown his now failing weight on Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC). Mnangagwa of the ruling party, Zanu-PF, is using Mugabe’s support for Chamisa as a leash to attack his credibility.
Mnangagwa has asked Zimbabweans to shun the opposition candidate because he is an extension of the former leader.
Although Mnangagwa is highly projected to win, there is a significant groundswell of support for the opposition MDC Alliance.
Uneasy calm as Zimbabwe awaits Presidential election on Monday
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe is sticking to his promise to conduct presidential election come Monday all things being equal.
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Mnangagwa, Chamisa set for showdown as Zimbabwe National Elections to hold July 30
Zimbabeans will go to the poll to elect their president, first after the long years in power of Robert Mugabe.
On assumption of office earlier in the year, after forced resignation of Mugabe, Mnangagwa said election would come in June but later settled for July.
Reports say election campaign has been marred by a growing number of reports of voter intimidation and threats of violence, according to UN body has said.
“This includes people being forced to attend rallies in rural areas, the UN human rights office said.
It did not blame any party, but the ruling Zanu-PF has been accused of violence in previous elections”, says BBC.
The race to the number one office in the land is predicted to be between Mnangagwa, and main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
The survey, by South Africa-based Afrobarometer, gave Mr Mnangagwa 40% of the vote and Mr Chamisa 37%, raising the possibility of a run-off.
In a statement, the UN human rights office said it welcomed the “widening of the democratic space” in Zimbabwe since Mr Mugabe’s removal from office.
“We remain concerned, however, at the increasing number of reports, particularly in some rural areas, of voter intimidation, threats of violence, harassment and coercion, including people being forced to attend political rallies,” it added.
Meet the frontrunners
Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75:
Known as “the crocodile” because of his political shrewdness – his Zanu-PF faction is “Lacoste”
Accused of masterminding attacks on opposition supporters after 2008 election
Says he will deliver jobs, and seen as open to economic reforms
Survived several alleged assassination attempts, blamed on Mugabe supporters
Nelson Chamisa, 40:
His skull was fractured when beaten up by state security agents in 2007
Became an MP at 25, a cabinet minister at 31 and could be the youngest president at 40
A recently qualified pastor, he has been using the hashtag #GodIsInIt for his campaign
Witty and humorous orator – his rallies and news conferences are accompanied by much laughter
15 years after, Zimbabwe applies to rejoin Commonwealth
President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa may have started making good his promises to rebuild Zimbabwe’s international ties.
Mnangagwa has written to Commonwealth, seeking readmission of his country. It is now 15 years after Zimbabwe, under the watch of Robert Mugabe, left the group.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said she was delighted to receive a letter from Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, dated 15 May.
However, she added they would only return “when the conditions are right”.
I whole-heartedly echo the sentiments of heads of government who have said twice, in 2009 and subsequently in 2011, that they very much look forward to Zimbabwe’s return when the conditions are right.
Zimbabwe’s eventual return to the Commonwealth, following a successful membership application, would be a momentous occasion, given our shared rich history.”
Zimbabwe withdrew from the 53 country-strong Commonwealth in 2003, having initially joined in 1980, after its membership was suspended amid reports of election rigging.
President Mugabe rejected previous attempts to bring the country back into the group.
The Commonwealth statement said the country would have to comply with “the fundamental values set out in the Commonwealth Charter, including democracy and rule of law plus protection of human rights such as freedom of expression” before being allowed to rejoin.
Commonwealth observers have been invited to attend this year’s elections in Zimbabwe – a process which will now form part of the informal assessment which will be carried out as part of the application.
The other member countries will also be consulted, the statement added.
New Visa Policy: Zimbabwe to issue Visa on arrival to 28 countries
By Andrew Iro Okungbowa (Contributing Editor, Nigeria)Zimbabwe appeared to be turning a new bend as the country has unfolded a new visa regime, which will now see nationals from about 28 countries issue visas on arrival at the country’s entering points. This is part of efforts at improving on its tourist arrival figures and opening up the economy to more foreign investors.
This new development was made public during the National Tourism Strategy Workshop held in Victoria Falls, by the Principal Director, Department of Immigration, Clement Masango, and its implementation, he said it with immediate effect.
It will be recalled that some time ago, the country’s Vice President, General Constantino Chiwenga (Rtd), had said that the government is moving away from the practice in most African countries where almost two-thirds of the world’s population must obtain visas before entry.
“Zimbabwe should take advantage of the international community’s confidence in the new administration to market the country as a preferred destination for tourists and investors, ‘’ Chiwenga had said.
Countries removed from category C (visa obtained before travelling) to category B (visa issued on arrival) include India, Mexico, Ethiopia, Panama, Romania and Armenia.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is expected in the coming days to release the full list of countries to enjoy this new policy even as all citizens from member states of the regional block, Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) will henceforth be issued visas on arrival.
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party the Movement For Democratic Change says Nelson Chamisa will serve as president of the party until Morgan Tsvangirai returns from receiving cancer treatment in South Africa. Credit/VoA
Sick Tsvangirai Names Interim Party Leader
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai is having serious health challenges and has been in and out of the hospital. Possibly to secure the opposition platform, the opposition leader has named Nelson Chamisa the acting president of the Movement for Democratic Change with immediate effect.
The party said that Chamisa, one of three party vice presidents, will serve as president until Tsvangirai returns from receiving cancer treatment in neighbouring South Africa. The party said the party’s two other vice presidents also are in South Africa.
The 65-year-old MDC leader has been in and out of the hospital since revealing last June that he has colon cancer.
Over the past few days there have been unconfirmed reports that Tsvangirai is gravely ill and might not survive, but Tsvangirai has disputed that on his Twitter feed. “Of course I have cancer and not feeling too well but I am stable and the process is under control,” he wrote.
There are reports that Tsvangirai had divulged that he is suffering from cancer of the colony and had already commenced chemotherapy.
Nehanda Radio said Tsvangirai revealed that doctors who attended him in 2016 when he went down to South Africa diagnosed the disease and successfully operated on him, adding that he would undergo further medical procedures to deal with his ailment.
“Announcing his condition, Tsvangirai seemed to urge President Robert Mugabe to do the same, saying “the health of national leaders, including politicians, should not be a subject of national speculation and uncertainty”.
Mugabe, 92, has over the years made numerous trips to receive medical
Tsvangirai has been unwell and looked frail in recent months and he failed to attend two mass protests by his party in Bulawayo and Mutare.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Rita Makarau says, July 12, 2017, the country’s parliament must change laws otherwise her organization cannot allow citizens in the diaspora to vote. Credit/VOA
Zimbabwe Grapples With Diaspora Voting
Unless the Zimbabwe’s parliament strikes urgently and makes a new law to enable Zimababweans living in diasporas vote, the dreams of a thousand citizens may be unrealistic.
Currently, some Zimbabweans living outside their country have taken the government to court, seeking the diaspora’s right to take part in planned elections. Chief Justice Luke Malaba has said the matter will be heard by a “full bench” at a date to be determined.
But the exiled Zimbabweans want to be able to vote from where they are. One of them is United Kingdom-based Ruvimbo Chigwedere, who is bitter that Mnangagwa’s government says it has no money to help Zimbabweans vote.
“We saw it coming. It will take long time anyway. It is not about money, it is about [Mnangagwa government] policies: we are enemies of the state and that will take time to change. We are counted when it benefits [them]. But when it comes to the proper benefit for us we don’t really matter,” said Chigwe,dere
The VOA reports that Zimbabweans living abroad sent home about $750 million last year, according to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe estimates.
“Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights filed the petition to allow the diaspora to vote. Diplomats are the only Zimbabweans outside the country who can currently cast ballots. As many as three million people are left unable to vote.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Acting Chairperson Emmanuel Magade says his organization is not to blame for that.
“Our position as ZEC is that we would want every eligible Zimbabwean to vote, but everything has to be done in accordance with the law,” he said. “As of now, people in the diaspora are ineligible to vote. It’s incumbent upon the parliamentary parties to change the law. We are in servitude of the law. We will follow the law dutifully and faithfully.”
It remains to be seen whether parliament or the Constitutional Court will change the law in time for the next elections”, said VOA
Zimbabweans celebrate in Harare, Nov, 21, 2017, after the resignation of President Robert Mugabe. Credit/VoA
Democracy Rating: Zimbabwe Party Free Now, Says Freedom House
Democracy watch group, Freedom House has rated most countries of the world poor on democracy prospects, including the including China and United States.
But following the ouster of Zimbabwe’s longtime leader Robert Mugabe, Freedom House ranked the country “partly free” overall.
However, Freedom House rated Zimbabwe down on the undemocratic manner Mugabe was ejected from office and militarised way, Emmerson Mnangagwa became the president.
“Zimbabwe declined in our scores for 2017, but this was largely due to the fact that President Mugabe was pushed out by non-democratic means, and he was succeeded through non-democratic means,” says Arch Puddington, Freedom House Scholar, adding, “We do hope that some of the promises that have been made of reform and liberalization and serious Democratic elections are fulfilled. If they are, we will see improvements in Zimbabwe’s scores.”
The group, according to a VOA report said democratic principles such as election integrity and freedom of the press are weakening globally for the 12th consecutive year.
“There are more countries — in the case of 2017, many more countries — that showed declines in freedom than showed improvements,” says Arch Puddington, Freedom House Distinguished Scholar for Democracy Studies, who spoke with VOA ahead of the report’s release.
According to Freedom House, which analyzed data from 195 countries over the 2017 calendar year, 88 countries were rated “free,” 58 countries were rated “partly free,” and 49 countries were rated “not free” in its latest report.
The VOA is report is below
North America
Among the report’s major findings was the weakening of the United States as a champion of democracy, a standing further complicated by the ongoing special counsel’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“There are problems with the elections that you don’t find in most well-established democracies,” says Puddington, who cited excessive money in campaigns and state laws making voting more difficult as major factors that can undermine the electoral process.
In its assessment of the U.S., Freedom House pointed to ethical quandaries facing the current administration, including the Trump family’s business ties and the potential for conflicts of interest, as well as the president’s decision not to disclose his tax returns.
The White House has cited an ongoing tax audit as a factor in not releasing Trump’s tax returns.
Asia
Freedom House highlighted the intensification of repression under Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a contributing factor in the country’s overall downward trend and “not free” ranking.
“We’ve noticed efforts by China to influence the way other countries deal with China, talk about China, what scholars write about China, what journalists write about China,” says Puddington. “We see a kind of creeping policy of trying to expand the Chinese censorship system that is pervasive inside China to other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, even the United States, not to mention Asian countries who are neighbors of China, as well.”
In “partly free” ranked countries like Myanmar, experts say the findings are mixed, citing the country’s transition from military rule toward democracy with its worsening humanitarian crisis following the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims into neighboring Bangladesh.
Latin America
Even with economic and political instability in Nicaragua and Venezuela, Freedom House experts say there’s positive developments for the rest of the region.
“The new [Ecuadorean] president Lenin Moreno has dismantled some of the measures that his predecessor had put in place,” says Puddington, adding “he’s also shown a willingness to have a serious dialogue with reformist elements in the country and to prosecute officials for corruption.”
Even with increased engagement with the U.S., Freedom House upheld Cuba’s “not free” ranking, pointing to freedom of the press and open debate as one area needing improvement.
Middle East
Despite “not free” rankings and ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Freedom House highlighted both as countries to watch throughout 2018.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that the country is moving in the wrong direction or in the right direction,” says Puddington. “It just means that there are a lot of things going on in that country. And we anticipate that there will be changes in the next year.”
Analysts say progress toward democratic elections and effective civilian governments could signal major developments for both countries in the months ahead.
Retired Commander of Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) General Constatino Chiwenga takes an oath of office as Vice President during the swearing in ceremony at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, December 28, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
Former army boss Chiwenga sworn in as Zimbabwe Vice President
General Constatino Chiwenga, the former Zimbabwean army boss who orchestrated the ouster of Robert Mugabe and installation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been sworn-in Thursday, as the country’s Vice President.
The recently retired Commander of Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) took an oath of office as Vice President during the swearing in ceremony at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, December 28, 2017, Reuters reported.
Chiwenga, whose appearance on state television on Nov. 15 preceded armed soldiers taking to the streets, paving the way for Emmerson Mnangagwa to become president, is the latest in a string of military leaders to be elevated to government positions.
Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga (born Constantine Guveya Chiwenga; 25 August 1956) is a retired Zimbabwean general officer currently serving as Vice-President of the ruling ZANU-PF party since 23 December 2017. He is the former Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army.
He was born in 1956 in the Wedza district of Mashonaland East Province. General Chiwenga was educated up to O Level at St Mary’s Mission in Hwedza, together with Air Marshal Perence Shiri and Brigadier General Shungu, Commander Mechanised Brigade. On 29 July 2016, he changed his name to Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga.
He joined the war in 1973 and was trained in Mozambique as a ZANLA militant. Chiwenga adopted the war name of “Dominic Chinenge”. He rose through the ranks to become a Provincial Commander for Masvingo/Gaza Province deputised by George Chiweshe who was the Provincial Commissar. He was later promoted to the High Command in 1978 to the post of ZANLA Deputy Political Commissar as Josiah Tungamirai’s deputy.
In 1981 he was attested to the newly formed Zimbabwe National Army as a brigadier commanding First Brigade in Bulawayo. He was later promoted to the rank of major general and reverted to his original name of Constantine Chiwenga.
In the early 1980s after failing basic Officers course at the Zimbabwe Staff College he bribed a junior officer to give him answers for practical Intermediate Staff Course. It is alleged the he accepted a green coded paper with suggested solutions which are available only after the exam. Chiwenga was expelled from the course after refusing to name the junior officer who had given him the paper. He then went on to shoot himself through the right shoulder in an attempt to end his life and was admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare.
On the formation of Zimbabwe Defence forces (ZDF) in 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and was appointed commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). Upon the retirement of General Vitalis Zvinavashe in 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
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