Tag: Nic Cheeseman

But despite the efforts of the government to improve its reputation, the politics of fear continues to undermine the prospects for a free and fair election. Having replaced Robert Mugabe after he was forced from power by the military in November, Mnangagwa is desperate to present himself as a “change” candidate. But many Zimbabweans don’t believe the hype. “I don’t know,” one opposition supporter told me. Having promised elections observed by international monitors — something that was not allowed under Mugabe — the president has delivered. Recent data collected by the Heal Zimbabwe Trust and We The People are troubling. Scores of human rights violations are happening every week, and the vast majority are committed by ruling party or state officials. The widespread use of subtle violence places election observers in a bind. If the international community is to effectively respond, it is essential that election observers don’t wait until after the elections to raise concerns. Others need to do the same — and fast — if elections in the new Zimbabwe are to offer citizens a genuine choice of which party they want to govern their country.