Spring Break
A Responsibility to Lead: Zimbabwe's Opportunity for Change
Shawn Kothari '11
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Opinion
The world sits on the edge of its seat awaiting the official release of election results in Zimbabwe. For the first time since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, President Robert Mugabe's rule is being challenged. However, Mugabe's party, the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) remains tenacious in its attempts to stay in power. Though its grasp may be slipping, the party is demanding a recount in a vote already fraught with electoral violations.
Human Rights Watch had ominously foreshadowed such violations in an article published on the group's website 10 days before the March 29th elections. In the article, Georgette Gagnon, Africa Director at HRW, said, "Despite some improvements on paper to the election regulations, Zimbabweans aren't free to vote for the candidates of their choice. While there are four candidates running for president and many political parties involved, the election process itself is skewed." These claims rest on several of ZANU-PF's actions.
The tampering of election results is seemingly just another step in Mugabe's history of civil rights repression. His rule has been marked with widespread poverty, economic stagnation, and suppression of popular discontent. Furthermore, Mugabe has been criticized for similarly tampering with elections in 2000 and 2005. Despite the fact that the world may be united in its hope that Mugabe will step down, a free pass cannot be given to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The future of Zimbabwe rests in the hands of popular sovereignty. Much of the criticism of Mugabe's rule has been rooted in the fact that he has abused political power to consolidate wealth in the hands of the few, resulting in drastic wealth disparity. Put simply, the people have lost their control over the government. The current crisis is an opportune time for the people of Zimbabwe to test Tsvangirai's faith in democracy.
In a New York Times article, Tsvangirai has said that Mugabe's regime has been threatening his party's supporters. As a result, the risk of violence has rendered Tsvangarai somewhat hesitant to participate in a run-off election. Tsvangarai's reluctance is noted, but he stands at a point in history in which he can alter the course of Zimbabwe's future. The people are calling for change. Though a majority has not been reached, random samplings of the elections results that are being withheld show popular support for Tsvangarai. Tsvangirai should heed that the people of Zimbabwe will vote for him in a runoff. He should willingly participate in a runoff and stand resolute in the face of Mugabe's threats.
For decades the people of Zimbabwe have had to face poverty, famine, and illegitimate domination. Spoken threats stand little ground in the face of empty stomachs, jobless lives, and hopelessness. It is time for the government of Zimbabwe to become a steward of the people, beginning with Tsvangirai coming to power and then listening and heeding the people's wishes.
Human Rights Watch had ominously foreshadowed such violations in an article published on the group's website 10 days before the March 29th elections. In the article, Georgette Gagnon, Africa Director at HRW, said, "Despite some improvements on paper to the election regulations, Zimbabweans aren't free to vote for the candidates of their choice. While there are four candidates running for president and many political parties involved, the election process itself is skewed." These claims rest on several of ZANU-PF's actions.
The tampering of election results is seemingly just another step in Mugabe's history of civil rights repression. His rule has been marked with widespread poverty, economic stagnation, and suppression of popular discontent. Furthermore, Mugabe has been criticized for similarly tampering with elections in 2000 and 2005. Despite the fact that the world may be united in its hope that Mugabe will step down, a free pass cannot be given to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The future of Zimbabwe rests in the hands of popular sovereignty. Much of the criticism of Mugabe's rule has been rooted in the fact that he has abused political power to consolidate wealth in the hands of the few, resulting in drastic wealth disparity. Put simply, the people have lost their control over the government. The current crisis is an opportune time for the people of Zimbabwe to test Tsvangirai's faith in democracy.
In a New York Times article, Tsvangirai has said that Mugabe's regime has been threatening his party's supporters. As a result, the risk of violence has rendered Tsvangarai somewhat hesitant to participate in a run-off election. Tsvangarai's reluctance is noted, but he stands at a point in history in which he can alter the course of Zimbabwe's future. The people are calling for change. Though a majority has not been reached, random samplings of the elections results that are being withheld show popular support for Tsvangarai. Tsvangirai should heed that the people of Zimbabwe will vote for him in a runoff. He should willingly participate in a runoff and stand resolute in the face of Mugabe's threats.
For decades the people of Zimbabwe have had to face poverty, famine, and illegitimate domination. Spoken threats stand little ground in the face of empty stomachs, jobless lives, and hopelessness. It is time for the government of Zimbabwe to become a steward of the people, beginning with Tsvangirai coming to power and then listening and heeding the people's wishes.
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