#ElectionsZW: Zanu PF tells off US govt over calls for electoral reforms
Zanu PF has slammed the recent statements made by the US Embassy that it would closely monitor the March by-elections and 2023 elections to determine if President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government had levelled the playing field for credible, free, and fair elections.
The ruling party’s information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the proclaimed by-elections had nothing to do with a foreign state or foreign government and that the US had no jurisdiction to monitor the elections.
“This is a sovereign republic and we don’t hold elections to please and satisfy the whims, caprices, and interests of foreign governments but to ensure that Zimbabwean people are represented at every level.
“According to the laws of our jurisdiction not according to the laws of the United States of America. Yes of course Zimbabwe is not on a reform agenda and the second republic is quite very clear about it, but let me make it very clear that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated time and again that this reform process is to ensure that democracy and freedom flourish in Zimbabwe.
“Not to please foreign governments so these reforms have nothing to with pleasing any government or satisfying the interests of any government whatsoever,” said Mugwadi.
Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF government has postponed by-elections for more than one and half years on account of Covid-19 regulations yet controversially held various party rallies and state gatherings in violation of said Covid-19 regulations.
Critics have accused Mnangagwa’s government of weaponizing the Covid-19 pandemic to clamp down on dissent and shrink the civic space.
The US embassy on Tuesday however, released another statement advocating that the implementation of electoral reforms were of paramount importance for inclusive and democratic elections in the future.
“To ensure #ZimVotesMatter, electoral reform is needed to remove the barriers to voter registration for full participation in upcoming elections. Every citizen should have a clear path to vote.
“Zimbabwe’s constitution grants citizens the right to choose their representatives in legitimate, credible, and peaceful elections. Multiple obstacles, however, prevented many Zimbabweans from registering to vote in time for by-elections despite #RegistertoVoteZW campaign efforts,” read the statement.
Mugwadi however, castigated the US embassy saying they “have no right, basis and moral ground whatsoever to tell us about our elections.”
