Losers must lose gracefully: Madhuku

MOREBLESSING MARANGE

Political parties and candidates who lose elections must learn to accept results and move on to avoid prolonged and divisive disputes, National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku has said.

Madhuku’s comments come as Zimbabwe is preparing for elections due next year.

While other political parties have since accepted results of the 2018 harmonised elections and are now part of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), other opposition outfits including the recently formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) have refused to be part of the process insisting the election results were manipulated.

“The issue of disputed elections is being exaggerated,” Madhuku said. “We have always had disputations that those who had lost, the biggest losers, meaning someone who would be close to being a winning candidate have a tendency of not accepting results. The fact that they have not accepted the results has caused the dispute so we cannot say we have disputed elections because someone does not accept defeat. They should accept defeat or at least consider the results and say I will do better next time.”

The constitutional law expert said POLAD was brought to bring all political parties on the negotiating table and those outside the platform should join and not wait to cry foul.

He said those arguing POLAD was an extension of ZANU PF were being dishonest.

“We are just being polite to accept that kind of argument but the truth of the matter is that some people are not used to exchanging ideas from a wide range of political perspectives.

“They always view others as an extension or as puppets of the ruling party. I will never be an extension of ZANU PF. I will not support ZANU PF. I am busy building my party called the NCA and voters will see how much support it has when we get to 2023. We will do very well,” he said.

Madhuku said those resisting to join POLAD were clinging to old politics. “We brought POLAD so that maybe all political parties will come up together and have transparency for the upcoming elections. The citizens should not worry about disputed elections but focus on registering to vote,” he said.

Cabinet last week received and approved the Electoral Amendment Bill 2022 which seeks to provide for key expectations in the holding of elections.