Main opposition parties have welcomed the release of the by-elections date by President Emmerson Mnangagwa but however urged for the elections to be free and fair by not favouring the ruling Zanu Pf.
The President announced that the by elections will be held on 26 March 2022 so as to fill in vacancies in the National Assembly.
In an interview with 263times, MDC Alliance spokesperson, Fadzai Mahere said they welcome the much awaited by- elections as this will pave way for them to remove the Zanu Pf from power.
“Any proclamation for elections must be accompanied by a clear reforms roadmap that paves the way for an undisputed election. The bad governance and legitimacy crisis that continues to plague Mr Mnangagwa’s regime is a direct result of the disputed election of 2018.
“Their failures to deliver basic services including public health, education, housing, water and food security as well as the attendant broken economy stem from the fact that they are not a people’s government. There is a broken social contract that can only be mended by electoral reforms, then the holding of free and fair elections and ultimately a return to legitimacy and democracy.
“This is the only way to solve the bad governance crisis in Zimbabwe. Naturally, their own disputed elections shed light on their huge deficit when it comes to respect for sound electoral processes.” She said.
Mahere said they advocate for the full disbandment of the partisan and militarized ZEC secretariat and full reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission itself as they had set out in their draft Electoral Amendment Bill and Electoral Reform document.
“We demand bona fide engagement with ZEC which has a constitutional duty to engage major stakeholders with a view to ensuring electoral reforms are implemented. To set an election date without addressing the vexed electoral reforms question is to put the cart before the horse. The need for reforms is non-negotiable.” Added Mahere.
Meanwhile, in a statement, MDC T spokesperson, Witness Dube said they warmly welcome the decision by the Zanu PF first secretary to hold the “much anticipated” by-elections on March 26 and their victory is certain.
“As a party we are resolute to contest elections as the way to democratically control state power. It has been a year since the Extra Ordinary Congress of 27 December 2021 and the party has been working hard to rejuvenate the grassroots.”
The MDC T party which is led by Douglas Mwonzora is speculated to being a puppet of the ruling Zanu Pf in a bid to oust the MDC Alliance party which is led by Nelson Chamisa.
Mwonzora last year was reported to being against the holding of by- elections in fear of losing to Chamisa.
However Dube said last year they were already in preparation for by- elections.
“In the final quarter of 2021, we openly called for CVs from qualifying carders to fill in the vacancies that arose from recalls and deaths. The process was overwhelmingly subscribed to and the quality of candidates is of the highest order.” Dube said.
Both parties further urged Zimbabweans to register to vote so as to achieve free and fair elections.