29 July 2002
MDC rejects Kadoma mayoral results as fraudulent
We reject the results of the Kadoma mayoral elections as a complete fraud. In the same manner that Zanu PF has repeatedly stolen the people’s victory in past elections, the full Zanu PF machinery was involved in constructing a warped victory against a genuine expression by the people of Kadoma.
While the MDC has continued to participate in all the elections in Zimbabwe, there is no doubt that the playing field is completely distorted. Robert Mugabe simply refuses to follow the basic electoral standards set by SADC and the international community.
The SADC electoral norms, to which Zimbabwe is party and by which the country is bound contains electoral rules and standards on elections such as the need for an Independent Electoral Commission, access to an open and reliable voter’s roll and non-partisan electoral management.
It is totally and wholly unacceptable for Zanu PF to continue to be a contestant and a referee at the same time. It is well-known that the entire electoral machinery and management has been so corrupted that the entire process is totally controlled by Zanu PF functionaries who at every stage of the electoral process do everything possible to ensure that they achieve a pre-determined outcome.
It is clear that Mugabe’s refusal to accept an Independent Electoral Commission is based on his knowledge that Zanu PF win elections in this country only through manipulation, fraud and cheating. There will never be electoral legitimacy in Zimbabwe until such a time that the electoral system has been purified of biases and the partisan manner in which the elections are contested.
The MDC has documented various cases of irregularities in this particular election. MDC candidate Editor Matamisa and Election Agent Kizito Mhike were denied the right to verify the votes after the separation of votes to check the voting totals.
The District Registrar William James Saenda counted spoilt papers, which were predominantly Zanu PF, insisting that he was using his discretion in determining which person the vote would count for.
Among the presiding officers were well-known Zanu PF officials, that included one Zanu PF councilor for Ward 5 called Kwaramba who was a polling officer.
The MDC Election Agent was not given full access to all polling stations, for example Mhike was prevented from entering Rimuka High polling Station on Saturday by Zanu PF youths. This incident was reported to Assistant Inspector Nderezina who is the Officer in Charge Rimuka Police Station who insisted that he could not assist. In addition gangs of Zanu PF youths were singing less than 100 metres away from the polling stations thus intimidating MDC supporters from voting and the police refused to assist in removing them.
Thousands of people were bussed from surrounding areas and did vote since presiding officers were clearly partisan.
We in the MDC have to continue to struggle for freedom by all democratic means necessary to ensure that the power of the people to elect their leaders under free and fair conditions is restored.
The MDC will as of now consult extensively to determine what course of action to take regarding the Kadoma mayoral election result in particular and generally what course of action to take regarding participation in these fraudulent exercises being passed as elections in circumstances where the MDC is being denied such elementary rights as the rights to hold campaign meetings.
Welshman Ncube,
MDC secretary General
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