We acknowledge the SADC report concerning irregularities in the harmonized Zimbabwean elections.
We also take note that the report was overseen by a Zambian representative, designated by a Zambian President who supports the Zimbabwean opposition (CCC) and endorses US dominance in Africa.
That President’s endorsement of the US led to him accepting the establishment of a US AFRICOM base in Zambia, despite objections from other SADC countries.
Consequently, considering SADC’s strong stance against the illegal unilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe, the omission of any mention in the report regarding the unfair advantage conferred by illegal U.S. sanctions to the Zimbabwean opposition which is backed by Zambia’s President and his American allies, turns a blind eye on the scientific evidence presented in Professor Boemsoeb Park’s 2018 research: “How Do Sanctions Affect Impact Incumbent Electoral Performance.”
This research demonstrated sanctions’ assistance to opposition parties, and the research additionally provided case studies illustrating how MDC/CCC has benefited from sanctions, to garner votes since 2000.
Furthermore, Arthur Mutambara substantiated the report by acknowledging, at the World Economic Forum in 2013, that he, Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC had reaped electoral dividends from sanctions in the 2008 elections.
In light of SADC’s strong position against unilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe. The absence of such crucial information in the election’s report renders the SADC report partial, prejudiced, and without validity.
It also sets a bad precedent that will encourage other political parties in the region to call for sanctions upon incumbent governments, to increase their chances of winning votes in future elections as MDC/CCC have done over the past 22 years, with the support of SADC.
This is something we witnessed two months ago when the DA went to the United States to call for sanctions on the South African government, based on mere debunked allegations of weapons being loaded onto a Russian ship in Simons Town (South Africa).
Nevertheless, it remains necessary to attribute part of the blame to the Zimbabwean government, for failing to raise awareness within SADC and the global community about the scientifically and empirically proven rigging and manipulation of elections through sanctions.
These sanctions impede government services, leading to the suffering and loss of life among Zimbabwean civilians, thereby coercing them into voting for the opposition and it seems SADC has endorsed this crime against humanity, in contrast to their position against Zimbabwean sanctions.
By Rutendo Matinyarare.
