Elections do work, don’t be fooled says Mahere
In an effort to increase the number of young people who are registered to vote before the 2023 elections, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has warned young people against outsourcing their right to vote by implying that elections are effective.
During a recent election watch update, CCC Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere debunked the myth that elections don’t work, which she alleges is propagated by Zanu PF.
‘’Zanu PF would not invest so much infrastructure, energy and resources in the electoral process if voting didn’t work.
“We want to emphasize to all the citizens, young people, to professionals, to people in urban areas, people in rural areas that elections work.
“If there has ever been a need for Zimbabweans to come together it’s now because our change depends on it, we cannot afford a further 5 years of the same,’’ she said.
While Mahere claimed that elections do function, youth participation in previous elections and voter registration drives suggests that young people in Zimbabwe have lost interest in the electoral process.
Young people see no gain in elections
A report published by the Citizens In Action Southern Africa (CIASA) in April 2022 suggests that, “alienated voters feel that their vote will not make any difference, that politics has little influence in their lives and that the main parties do not address their concerns.”
The reports add, ‘’young voters are largely uncompelled to take part in elections because they see no immediate gain to problems, they are facing such unemployment and poverty.”
Twitter users have mixed reactions on whether elections work or not in Zimbabwe.
A twitter user said, “In Zimbabwe it will take time, we have politicians who believe peace works when dealing with an autocratic regime. Panotoda kuitwa zvakaitirwa Rhodesian Front. Elections don’t work in.”
Another twitter user said, “We know why Zimbabwe is here today. And for 22 years we have gone full force at this election route in a bid for change. Yes, there are those who only say elections don’t work to discourage. But they are those who have genuinely come to believe it. Voter apathy is real.”
The opposition in Zimbabwe is still fighting for equal playing conditions as the country prepares for the harmonised elections in 2023.
Elections do work, don’t be fooled says Mahere
