The IIJD is an independent, not-for-profit international organization that actively advocates tackling the root causes of poverty by addressing systemic weaknesses, reforming institutions of governance, building capacity and empowering communities. With programs and initiatives based on participation, empowerment and sustainability, we treat not just the symptoms of poverty, underdevelopment, and insecurity, but confront their underlying causes. Read more....
We appreciate your support.
 
To make a tax deductible donation, please click here.
 
 
Check out our NEW online marketplace.
 
News and Publications
The IIJD Newsletter:
   
Zimbabwe: Protesters Tear Gassed Shortly After Mugabe Approves Changes to Public Order and Security Act
By Karoliina Gröhn
January 25, 2008
With simultaneously held parliamentary and presidential elections coming up in just two short months, things are certainly not looking very good for Zimbabwe. The country is struggling to survive its record-high inflation and rapid economic decay. While official figures have not been published for months, annual inflation is believed to be beyond 50,000 percent [1]. For the average Zimbabwean, like Princess (name changed), this means high prices and very little to live on. She explains that “for businesses just to break even, the prices of their goods and commodities should be doubling every four hours”. “We can almost see the infrastructure of Zimbabwe crumble before our very eyes”, she says. According to Princess, the annual inflation has already reached 150,000 percent [2]. A week ago (Jan. 18), the government released yet another banknote - this time a 10 million dollar bill worth less than 3.90 US dollars on the black market [3].
On January 11, President Robert Mugabe approved and signed changes to the Public Order and Security Act. In case of a denied permission to hold a political gathering (or a protest), the amendment now allows parties to appeal to a neutral magistrate instead of the Minister of Home Affairs, a member of the ruling Zanu-PF party. In addition, the police are now required to state a reason for a denied permission to gather [4]. According to Tendai Biti, the General Secretary of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the amendment came as a result of the first eight months of negotiations mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki [5].
Certainly good news, the changes come too late to bear any practical difference for the March elections. The country is hardly ready for an election to take place. In fact, the opposition is so certain that an election is not going to proceed in an orderly manner that it has threatened to pull out of the election altogether. According to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, ten months of negotiations have resulted in nothing but “a deadlock”. Before an election can take place, according to the MDC, the country needs a new constitution. In addition, the opposition is asking for an independent electoral commission [6].
There is little evidence that the amended Public Order and Security Act is making any changes on a practical level. On Wednesday (Jan. 23), the MDC proceeded with their plans to “test” whether the new security law truthfully meant to ease restrictions on protests before the elections and attempted to hold a protest despite police opposition. The police had banned the protest due to “security fears”. As hundreds of protesters approached the area of town where the protest was scheduled to take place (regardless of the ban), they were fired at with tear gas. A few hundred people made it to the protest site to hear what opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had to say. “You [the government] have failed the test for a free and fair election”, Tsvangirai shouted over the crowd. “If this is the regime’s reaction [to the protest], then elections are just a farce [7].”
While the IIJD certainly applauds any progress made during the Mbeki-lead negotiations, it is unlikely that the changes made to the Public Order and Security Act will bring any significant difference to the March elections. Zimbabwe is simply not ready to hold double elections in two months. It is the opinion of the IIJD that unless elections meet certain criteria, they cannot be considered legitimate. The following factors need to be present before, during, and after a free, fair, and legitimate election: An independent national electoral commission must exist within the country to carry out and monitor the election process without influence from political parties or the existing government; A fair, just, and transparent electoral law must be recognized as such by all members involved, including members of the government, political parties and voters; There must be free and open media coverage regardless of any dissent displayed by a candidate or their party; The citizenry must be registered and have free and unrestricted access to the media and press, and voters must also be able to make their decision and to vote without intimidation or persuasion; And all political candidates must have access to a free campaign in all areas of the country, even in traditional political strongholds [8]. It is only when all of the above criteria is met that the IIJD can support a governmental election in Zimbabwe. Without establishing strong institutions that can guarantee and support the democratic process and produce free and fair elections, there cannot and will not be democratic systems or free and fair elections. In order to avoid any further suffering by the Zimbabwean people, the election should be postponed until all of the above are established in Zimbabwe. Otherwise, the upcoming election will, indeed, be nothing but “just a farce” [9].
____________________________________________
[2] Email correspondence with Princess (name changed). Jan. 21, 2008.