Security on high alert as instability fears weigh

Bernard Mpofu/Chengetai Zvauya

The country’s security services have been put on high alert ahead of Monday’s general elections after MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the opposition coalition would not recognise anything short of an election victory.

Zimbabwe goes for its first elections without former President Robert Mugabe and his nemesis Morgan Tsvangirai who succumbed to cancer of the colon in February amid heightening political and security fears. Mugabe resigned last November after 37 years in power.

A record 23 presidential hopefuls will contest in the elections but polls suggest that the main race will be between Zanu PF presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa and Chamisa.

Sources this week said a series of security meetings were held in the capital and other cities and towns this week after MDC youth leader Happymore Chidziva threatened to cause mayhem in the event of an election loss.

Just yesterday, there was heavy police presence armed to the teeth after the MDC-Alliance threatened to stage a demonstration against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The Zimbabwe Republic Police turned down the demonstration citing logistical challenges. The MDC-Alliance has submitted a petition to ZEC, accusing the electoral management body for being skewed in favour of Zanu PF. The opposition alliance has cited a litany of concerns to ZEC which include transparency over the security of the ballot paper, limited access to public media and “ghost voters” on the voters roll.

ZEC has dismissed the claims saying the MDC-Alliance should challenge the electoral body in courts.

“Members of the Joint Operations Command comprising the army, police and Central Intelligence Organisation are taking threats made by the MDC-Alliance seriously. The rank and file of the security services is on high alert because the last thing this administration wants now is anarchy,” a source said.

“Everyone involved in the elections has been briefed about these developments. What has been resolved is that peace and tranquility should prevail before, during and after the elections.”

Early this month, Chamisa threatened to stop elections if his party was not given the chance to witness the printing of ballot papers. Yesterday the MDC Alliance leader made a U-turn and said his coalition would contest in the elections. He however said any election result in which Zanu PF wins would be challenged.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso Moyo yesterday told journalists that government has put in place mechanisms to thwart any dissent after election results are announced.

 “We are deeply concerned by rhetoric from certain political characters. We have welcomed the gospel of peace that is being preached by President Mnangagwa.   Despite that we have some certain quarters speaking of demonstrations and closing of cities. This is psychological   intimidation. As political parties we need to be civil in our conduct and not incite our supporters into unnecessary action,” said Moyo.

“Political competition must not overshadow the people. Politicians must not use certain language which causes confrontation and wrong attitudes in our people. Some of the statements are not good and we don’t condone them,” he said.

“The new dispensation has opened up a lot political space and given people a lot of freedom which must not be abused by other political players,” he said, adding that the call for any form of demonstration and violence or false statement about the country’s electoral environment was meant to destabilise the country.

“We can only conjecture that these are macabre machinations meant to tarnish our democratic electoral institutions and above all unleash violence and mayhem that may lead to the postponement or cancellations of the elections altogether,” he said.

“We, like all other spectators, are deeply concerned by untoward rhetoric and provocations by some stakeholders, all aimed  at disturbing the prevailing peaceful conditions  in the country,” said Moyo.

Zanu PF  youth chairperson Pupurai Togarepi, said the  MDC  Alliance was  wasting time in calling for  a shutdown of the city  over  ZEC  and calling for  SADC  to  mediate   in  the  country  electoral  dispute.

“They have realised that they are going to lose elections and this is why they are now running around making noise trying to find a straw to cling on. It is a useless antics and grand standing by them trying to save themselves from defeat from Zanu PF.   There is no violence in the country as everyone is campaigning peaceful. It is the usual noise from the opposition political parties that the elections are rigged by ZEC when they cannot prove it,” said Togarepi.

“MDC must play the game first before they can claim that the referee is not fair. Zanu PF are players in the game but they have not made any complaints against ZEC at all,” he said.

Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu this week said the police were ready to deal with any situation that will arise from the elections in terms of violence.

“The police are ready to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that is prevailing in the country and we hope that people will remain peaceful in their conduct and not to be engaged in any forms of violence. We have deployed police countrywide to help us have a free and peaceful environment.   We are not going to tolerate any act of violence, a few days before polling,” said Mpofu.