What chance have Human Rights got when Democracy in Zimbabwe is merely a "Calculated Façade" - Masquerading as a Democracy is the main issue.
Do the Zimbabwe "government" display democratic attributes?
GROK (X/Twitter version of AI - {Artificial Intelligence} and Human Research
The question of whether the Zimbabwean government displays democratic attributes is complex and multifaceted, given the country's political history and current governance practices. Here are some key points to consider:
Elections: Zimbabwe holds regular elections, which is a fundamental aspect of democracy. However, these elections have often been criticized for lacking fairness and transparency. Allegations of vote rigging, intimidation, and violence have marred several elections, including those in 2008 and 2018. The 2023 elections were similarly criticized for irregularities and intimidation, reflecting ongoing issues with the democratic process.
Judicial Independence: The judiciary's independence is crucial for democracy, but in Zimbabwe, there have been reports of judicial interference by the executive. Judges have been pressured to make rulings favourable to the government, undermining the separation of powers. The appointment process of judges has also been questioned for its lack of transparency and independence from executive influence.
ISS AFRICA - regarding Zimbabwe
Media Freedom: Freedom of the press is another cornerstone of democracy, yet in Zimbabwe, media freedom has been severely restricted. The government has historically used laws to control media narratives, close independent newspapers, and intimidate journalists, leading to self-censorship and a lack of diverse media voices.
Civil Liberties: The government's record on civil liberties is poor, with reports of human rights abuses, suppression of political opposition, and the use of state security forces to quell dissent. The 2022 Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Amendment Bill further restricts civil society's ability to operate freely, particularly on issues deemed "political."
Political Representation: Although there are opposition parties, the ruling ZANU-PF has maintained a dominant position since independence, often through methods criticized as undemocratic. The opposition faces significant challenges, including limited access to state media, political violence, and restrictive legal frameworks that favour the ruling party.
Corruption and Governance: Endemic corruption and a patronage system have been noted as critical challenges to democratic governance. These factors undermine the rule of law and public trust in government institutions.
Public Participation: While there is some level of public participation in governance, the space for civil society has been shrinking, particularly highlighted by laws like the PVO Bill, which can criminalize certain NGO activities.
In summary, while Zimbabwe has some structural elements of democracy like elections and a constitution with democratic provisions, the actual practice of these democratic principles is significantly flawed. The government's actions often suggest a deviation from democratic norms in favour of maintaining power, thus displaying limited democratic attributes in practice. However, the situation is dynamic, and political landscapes can change with time, advocacy, and internal or external pressures.
More Detail on Election Irregularities - GROK
Election irregularities in Zimbabwe have been a recurring issue, particularly highlighted during various national elections. Here's an overview based on documented events:
Voter Roll Issues: One of the most significant allegations involves the manipulation of the voter roll. Reports have suggested that the roll has included deceased individuals or those who have left the country, and there have been duplications or discrepancies in voter registration. These issues can lead to fraudulent voting or disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
Ballot Paper Delays: During the 2023 elections, there were significant delays in the delivery of ballot papers, particularly in urban areas traditionally supportive of opposition parties. This was seen as a tactic to suppress votes, as it resulted in extended waiting times, and some voters were unable to cast their votes.
Intimidation and Violence: There have been consistent reports of voter intimidation, especially from groups like Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), associated with the ruling party, ZANU-PF. These groups have been accused of setting up checkpoints and collecting voter information, which can be used for intimidation or to ensure votes go to the ruling party.
Electoral Commission Bias: The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has been criticized for lacking transparency and independence. Allegations include ZEC officials pressuring observers to sign altered result forms and the commission's failure to release the voter roll for adequate scrutiny before elections.
Media and Disinformation: The spread of false information, particularly via social media platforms like WhatsApp and X, has been used to discredit opposition candidates and manipulate public perception. There's also a noted bias in state media coverage, favouring the ruling party.
Arrests of Observers: During elections, there have been instances where election observers, particularly from civil society groups, have been arrested on dubious charges like "unlawful tabulation" of votes, which suggests an attempt to hinder independent verification of results.
Legal and Administrative Practices: Laws like the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) and the Patriot Act have been used to restrict freedom of assembly and expression, affecting the electoral environment by potentially criminalizing political dissent or critique of the government.
Observer Mission Reports: Numerous international and regional observer missions, including those from SADC, AU, EU, and others, have reported on these irregularities, often concluding that Zimbabwe's elections did not meet the necessary standards for free and fair elections.
These irregularities point to systemic issues within Zimbabwe's electoral process that challenge the integrity and democratic nature of its elections. The ongoing allegations and criticisms underscore the need for substantial electoral reform to ensure transparency, fairness, and the genuine expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people.
Now onto a chronological critique of {so called} Democracy in Zimbabwe
9th December 2024 US Embassy Zimbabwe: Twitter/X
“Today's corruption robs Zimbabwean youth of tomorrow's opportunities. #Zimbabwe ranks 157th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perception Index 2023. The U.S. Embassy reaffirms its commitment to fighting corruption & advancing good governance in Zimbabwe. #AntiCorruptionDay”
8th December 2024 Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs
UN Special Reporter Twitter Post
“I'll be closely following tomorrow's hearing in the case against human rights defenders in #Zimbabwe including Namatai Kwekweza @namataik_ & Robson Chere @robohchere , who stand accused of “disorderly conduct”. I once again call for these spurious charges to be dropped @MoFA_ZW”
5th December 2024 Gukurahundi Genocide – Revisited
5th December 2024 London Petition
“Then we did a short video of handing over the 15 page written evidence based petition;
{5th Dec 2024 Written Petition to Read/Download} - itself containing a strong line of reasoning and necessary recommendations by ZAPU President Michael S Nkomo - son of Joshua Nkomo. We thank him for his insight and razor sharp reasoning in highlighting the gross deficiencies displayed by the current Zanu PF regime - in NOT dealing with the National grief and need for real Justice for this Genocide.”
“The petition took evidence from a wide range of historical sources, such as the Genocide Scholars, The Catholic Bishops, Dr Hazel Cameron, Dr Stuart Doran, the BBC and others. In additional recent testimonies from several key individuals who were on the ground at the time too.”
“It should also be noted that copies of the Petition are to be e-mailed or posted to {amongst others} the Commonwealth Secretariat, The UN OHCHR, The FCDO Zimbabwe Desk and the Minister for Africa. We trust that the eleven recommendations contained within the Petition will be acknowledged and implemented as soon as practicable.”
30th November 2024 World Highest Inflation and Reasons
Steve Hanke Twitter Zimbabwe Post
@steve_hanke
#ZIMWatch🇿🇼: Today, I measure Zimbabwe's inflation at 1198%/yr. That's the HIGHEST INFLATION RATE IN THE WORLD. PRES. MNANGAGWA = ARROGANT, IGNORANT, & INCOMPETENT.
CITE Organisation Zimbabwe 11th November 2024
CITE ZW Article - Election Fraud
“Opposition parties fear 2028 election fraud in proposed constitutional amendment”
Zimbabwe’s opposition leaders are raising strong concerns over a proposed omnibus Constitutional Amendment Bill, warning that centralising voter registration within the executive-controlled Civil Registry Department could set the stage for election rigging in 2028.
This shift would end the current oversight by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), established in 2005 to mitigate alleged partisanship within the Civil Registry.
The bill, announced by Minister of Justice Ziyambi Ziyambi, would transfer voter registration duties from ZEC to the Civil Registry, led by the Registrar-General.
The proposed amendments would also see young citizens automatically added to the voters’ roll upon turning 18, using biometric data from their ID applications. Voters would be assigned a polling station based on the residential address on their ID, and those who change addresses could update this information before registration to ensure correct polling station assignment.
However, in interviews with CITE, opposition leaders argued that placing this authority in the hands of the Civil Registry—a department with a reputation for partisanship—could compromise the voters’ roll and favour the ruling Zanu PF party.
X Posts 12th Nov 2024: Interference: Mozambique's 2024 election
More Twitter Posts re Election Interference - Mozambique
{Unsubstantiated Report – Breaking News Perhaps?}
Tomorrow evening {13th Nov 2024}, @sahrlawyers will be publishing and handing in a full report on Zimbabwe's interference in Mozambique's 2024 election to relevant Mozambican human rights lawyers, Constitutional Council and @SADC_News to help resolve the situation in Mozambique
Newsday/Crime Watch Zimbabwe 10th November 2024
Crime Watch Zimbabwe @crimewatchzw
US ambassador raises concerns about being followed by Zimbabwean intelligence agents (CIO)
UNITED States (US) ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont has reportedly complained to government about alleged State security surveillance and increased tension between Washington and Harare.
Tremont, who replaced Brian Nichols, assumed office in July this year. A source privy to the matter told NewsDay that Tremont had become “weary about suspected surveillance and being trailed during her travels.”
“She (Tremont) recently sent a team to senior government officials to discuss the matter.”
Source: NewsDay
5th November Blog by Columnist Tendai Mbofana
“Yesterday, I received a vitriolic message from an anonymous supporter of Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party. The message accused me of being a “mercenary” and an “enemy of the country,” simply because I continue to write articles that hold those in power accountable and expose the nefarious activities that are increasingly becoming the hallmark of this regime.”
“I found it a curious, albeit unsurprising, response. In spite of me politely thanking him for the message and respectfully asking him to be more specific on the issues (in my writings) he found problematic, so that I could address them accordingly, he chose to go silent.”
“He merely ended his message with ‘forward with ZANU-PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’. This, of course, is a pattern I’ve come to expect from the party’s defenders—an inability to engage with issues on an intellectual level, but rather, an inclination to launch baseless, personal attacks against those who dare to question their ‘dear leader’.”
“In a sense, this message encapsulates the very nature of politics in Zimbabwe today—blind loyalty to a political party of one’s choice, and by extension, to the leader of that party.”
Reuters News 25th October 2024
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's consumer inflation surged to 37.2% month on month in October in local currency terms, data showed on Friday, after a sharp devaluation in the southern African country's currency.
Zimbabwe's central bank allowed the local gold-backed currency to fall over 40% in late September, to 24.3902 to the U.S. dollar. The currency has since fallen further, to 27.6880 to the dollar as of Friday, according to the central bank's website.
David Coltart 23rd October 2024 TWITTER POST
““I am utterly appalled that a fellow lawyer could make such a callous & flippant statement regarding an allegation of torture made by one of our brightest young women. This type of conduct is a disgraceful, unprofessional and should be condemned by the @lawsocietyofzim””
Special Rapporteurs 21st October 2024
SR Defenders Communication UN Special Rapporter
The following is based on a communication written by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts to the Government of Zimbabwe on 13 August 2024. The communication remained confidential for 60 days before being made public, giving the Government time to reply. The Government replied on 9 September 2024.
Since the sending of the communication, Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere and Samuel Gwenzi were granted bail on 4 September 2024 and subsequently released. Their trial on charges of “disorderly conduct” is currently ongoing.
“On 31 July 2024, at approximately 12.50 p.m., Ms. Namatai Kwekweza, Mr. Robson Chere and a third individual, local councillor for Citizens Coalition for Change, Mr. Samuel Gwenzi, were forcibly removed from a departing flight at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare. Unidentified men, suspected to be State security agents though wearing Aviation Company of Zimbabwe uniforms, escorted the three to a high security zone in the airport and held them incommunicado until 9.00 p.m.”
{Continues;}
“While held incommunicado and being forcibly disappeared, the three individuals were reportedly subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Ms. Namatai Kwekweza, who had recently undergone a dental procedure, had a shoe and a mental bar forced into her mouth, causing her significant distress. Mr Robson Chere was beaten with an iron bar on the soles of his feet, buttocks and lower back while his dreadlocks were cut off with a knife. His attackers further allegedly threatened to kill him or rape his wife if any protests occurred in run-up to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit scheduled for 17 August 2024 in Harare. Mr. Robson Chere was also allegedly waterboarded. The third individual, Mr. Samuel Gwenzi, was reportedly beaten and his family members threatened.”
“At approximately 9.00 p.m. on 31 July 2024, the three were reportedly handed over to the Zimbabwe Republic Police – Criminal Investigation Department, Law and Order section and transferred to Harare Central Police Station. Only then were they informed that they were being charged with “disorderly conduct” under section 41 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act and permitted access to legal representation. The charges levelled against the human rights defenders relate to their alleged participation in a rally on 27 June 2024 calling for the release from detention of Citizens Coalition for Change interim leader Mr. Jameson Timba.”
{Continues;}
The Zimbabwe {regime} response, again shows their disregard of any and all criticism or ‘exposure’ of their clear Human Rights violations: Clearly in denial of the events subsequent to the abduction of these 3 individuals and their treatment whilst “Forcibly Disappeared”.
“"Government {Zanu PF regime response} has also noted the disturbing pattern by some non-state actors to deliberately and mischievously cause anarchy particularly, ahead of major international events, in order to discredit the Government. These unlawful actions, have become sources of unverified information which, unfortunately, are authoritatively used as the basis of allegations of human rights violations against Zimbabwe."”
ACTSA Tweet 21st October 2024
“It's uncomplicated if the Zimbabwe regime stops locking up citizens on trumped-up charges, denying them bail, jailing pregnant women & children and enabling life threatening beatings of people for supporting different political parties. Free speech is a condition of democracy.”
Lord Jonny Oates on Twitter 21st October 2024
House of Lords - Jonathan Oates Twitter Post
“It would be damaging to the reputation of the @commonwealthsec”
“if Zimbabwe re-joined while its government continues to detain political leaders and deny human rights, in violation of the Commonwealth Charter.”
Zanu PF are actively DESTABILISING the Southern Africa Region;
HON Job Wiwa Sikhala @JobSikhala1 – Much victimised Zimbabwean Opposition 18th October 2024
“ZANU PF has become a regional cancer. Addressing a rally recently in Botswana, President Ian Khama said ZANU PF has sent its agents to rig the forthcoming elections in Botswana to be held on the 30th of October 2024 for Masisi.”
“”He says the same ZANU PF party has been involved in the rigging of the recent elections in Mozambique. He also points out the party's nocturnal involvement in the SA elections held in May this year.””
“As Zimbabweans, we are being risked to be hated everywhere in the region because of a stinking party that loves to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries. They are the loudest to cry against interference in the domestic affairs of our own country but found practising exactly the same in other nations.”
“The rigging cancer has been spread throughout the region. Everyone is crying against the activities of ZANU PF. They must not create problems for our people living in those countries through their activities in the region. They are no different from those countries sponsoring terrorism in other regions!!!”
More Articles regarding the Masquerade of Democracy in Zimbabwe
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-will-not-tolerate-interference-in-its-internal-affairs-says-mnangagwa/
16th Sep 2023
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned that any political interference in Zimbabwe by countries “masquerading as champions of democracy” will not be tolerated.” {His hypocrisy is simply breath-taking!} note by Author
“This comes after several blocs such as the AU, Commonwealth, EU, SADC denounced the August general elections saying they were flawed and fell short of international and regional standards.”
“The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change is demanding a fresh election despite its councillors and legislators being sworn in.”
“Recently, UK MPs called for the re-evaluation of Zimbabwe’s bid to re-join the Commonwealth over the widely condemned polls. The Commonwealth set conditions for Zimbabwe to meet before re-joining the bloc, among them holding credible general elections.”
theafricareport.com Pretending to be a Democracy
23rd Jan 2023 - 2 years ago but still valid
“No more pretending”
“The squalid autocracy that President Mnangagwa presides over couldn’t be more different from the Zimbabwe he promised to create. Ahead of the 2018 general election, Mnangagwa pledged to usher in a new period of democracy and development distinguished by “free and fair” elections. The dark days experienced under his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, would be confined to the dustbin of history, as the country opened up both politically and economically.”
“Desperate to persuade Zimbabwean voters and international partners to overlook his violent past, Mnangagwa’s campaign even put up posters proclaiming his commitment to good governance and human rights. However, this was little more than a masquerade, a piece of political theatre that was not even sustained through the election period itself.”
theatlantic.com Broken Democracy
17th Nov 2017 - "....end of a 37-year {Mugabe} dictatorship masquerading as a democracy" - {to be replaced by Mnangagwa's Zanu PF DICTATORSHIP - masquerading as a democracy"} as added by the author
“In 2008, international sanctions forced Mugabe to draft a democratic constitution. Danish filmmaker Camilla Nielsson obtained unprecedented access behind the scenes of a democracy-in-the-making. Her documentary ‘Democrats’, excerpted above, follows the two top political operatives steering the constitutional process: Paul Mangwana, representing ZANU-PF, Mugabe’s party; and Douglas Mwonzora, a representative of the opposing party, the Movement for Democratic Change. Filmed over the course of three years, Democrats offers a first-hand account of the fraught and sometimes violent process of chartering a constitution—or, as a constituent puts it in the film, “giving my country a new life.”
‘Democrats’ is banned by Zimbabwe’s Board of Censors.
demdigest.org Steps to make a Democracy
17th Oct 2017 - "Zimbabwe, however, has not yet established a process that treats all political parties equitably and allows citizens to be confident that they can cast their votes and express political opinions free from fear of retribution, they write."
"The election aftermath has been a brutal reminder of the problems of Zimbabwe’s transition to a mature African democracy, notes Sue Onslow, deputy director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Already a warning has come from an influential American election observer that the army’s violent behaviour will have a disastrous influence on Congress’ review of US sanctions and Washington’s willingness to agree to IMF support for debt restructuring. Mnangagwa’s PR strategy of Zimbabwe ‘open for business’, ushering in a new era of reconciliation and reform, has been dented, probably irretrievably, by the Zimbabwe army’s determination to dictate politics, she adds."
'Democracy, Governance and Legitimacy in Zimbabwe since the November 2017 Military Coup' by Aaron Rwodzi
Abstract
This article focuses on the democracy and legitimacy debates in Zimbabwe after the ouster of Robert Mugabe from power by his erstwhile ally, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in November 2017. President Mnangagwa popularized the terms “Second Republic” and “New Dispensation” to show that his regime differed from Mugabe’s in terms of governance style. The position of this article is that Mnangagwa’s regime could not abandon the system established under the reign of Mugabe. Instead, it argues that the Second Republic reflects continuities of the Mugabe era being transposed into a quasi-military edifice whose ‘commandist’ approaches denigrate cries for democracy and transparency. This qualitative research draws on data from interviews with political elites in the opposition and ruling parties as well as secondary sources.
Point 37 “Rigging in Zimbabwe is practiced not only in controlling the work of election officials and law enforcement agents, but also in manipulating a defective electoral roll system with millions of ghost voters.”