Rutendo Chirume
Youth Decide Zimbabwe on January 21 2022 released a statement imploring Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to develop broad-based and progressive electoral reforms to prove proficiency come March 26 by-elections.
YDZ said ZEC and other state institutions should take outstanding steps towards constructive correction of the systems and processes so as to move away from the past where other parties after each election reject and dismiss election results citing inappropriate conduct or rigging.
“Most of all, we implore with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to prove proficiency as obliged by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Electoral Act. In Zimbabwe, we have a record that after each election, other parties usually reject and dismiss the election results citing either inappropriate conduct or rigging. Meanwhile we call upon ZEC and all state institutions to correct outstanding steps towards constructive correction of the systems and processes so as to dissipate from the past. As young people, we call for immediate, broad-based and progressive electoral reforms,” read the statement.
YDZ also bemoaned the delay of parliamentary and local government by-elections date announcement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa which was supposed to be held in March 2020 saying it is a repression of the constitutional rights of the citizens.
“Youth Decide Zimbabwe (YDZ) has noted the proclamation of the delayed and much-awaited by-elections date by President Mnangagwa. The most important feature of a democratic society like Zimbabwe is the conducting of free, fair, credible and timeous elections. Before anything else, we unyieldingly reprove the dilatory of the Parliamentary and Local government by-elections which have been vacant since 2020. The postponement of by-elections was just and a successful repression of the constitutional rights of citizens. We pleadingly charge the responsible authorities to always act as per constitutional obligations,” the statement read.
The statement also encouraged the youth to participate in the forthcoming by-elections with great efficacy and determination as a potent to fight corruption, nepotism and consolidation of power and that the whole nation should reject and renounce ancient politics characterized by violence, hate, blaming and sloganeering.
“We fervently encourage the youth to participate in the forthcoming by-elections with great efficacy and determination. We strongly believe that voting is a civic right and responsibility which the youth must be providing guidance and direction as well as determining and protecting the outcomes. The youth must use elections as a tool to fight corruption, nepotism and authoritarian consolidation of power under all and any circumstances. We encourage the youth and the generality of citizens across the nation to boldly reject and renounce the ancient politics which were characterized by violence, hate, blaming and sloganeering. It is high time for us as the youth to strategically position ourselves as agents of national development and transformation,” it read.
Zimbabwean election periods have been characterised by political intolerance in which intra and inter-party violence became common features in the run up to, during and soon after the polls.
