BCP STATEMENT ON ZIMBABWE’s ELECTIONS OUTCOME

The   Botswana   Congress   Party   has   noted   developments   around   the   August

2023 Harmonized Elections in Zimbabwe. These developments should be of concern to all of us in the SADC region from all perspectives. From a human rights perspective, ordinary  Zimbabweans  have  been  subjected  to  an  undignified  way  of  life, with  a significant   number   of   them   being   forced   by   economic   hardships   to   live as undocumented migrants in neighbouring countries and beyond. This has been their life story for decades now and it is becoming accepted as a norm. On the economic front, the country has not leveraged its optimal weight as a trading partner, as a market, and as a supplier of goods and services, thereby negatively impacting the regional economy’s performance. From the diplomatic and regional integration perspective, it is near impossible to have honest discussions and pursue a productive agenda for regional advancement if we have accepted perpetual dysfunctionality of the economy of an important partner. The SADC region has a moral duty and responsibility to help the people of Zimbabwe restore their country to normalcy and greatness.

The Botswana Congress Party believes that good governance is the cornerstone of any development agenda of a democratic state. To that end, ensuring the integrity of an election in any nation is imperative. Elections in Zimbabwe have always been marred with  controversy. SADC  was called  to  intervene  following  the  2008 polls.  The  SADC intervention  resulted  in formation of  a  Government  of  National  Unity.  That  decision continues to haunt the people of Zimbabwe to this day. The decision continues to hold back SADC on its agenda for regional integration as the problems besieging Zimbabwe persist. In  2020, SADC’s  credibility  came  into  question  in the  Malawi  elections after the regional body declared them meeting its guidelines and principles for a credible poll following the declaration of the then incumbent President as the winner. The result of that election was overturned by High Court of Malawi that ordered a re-run and opposition party  emerged victorious. There  is  no  doubt  that  the  credibility  of SADC has  been affected overtime. The 2023 Zimbabwe elections have offered us an opportunity for

redemption.  As  Botswana  Congress  Party,  we  have  noted three very  significant developments from the election that require urgent action.

a)The  SADC  Election  Observer  Mission (SEOM)preliminary  report: The  report  is  very comprehensive and professionally written. It covers both the pre-election period, a very critical component of any democratic election, as well as the voting day observations. The  SEOM concluded  that  from  their pre-election  and  voting  day  observation,  the election  fell  short  of  the  dictates  of  both  the  constitution  of  Zimbabwe  and  the SADC guidelines and principles governing democratic elections. We do not expect this indicting conclusion to change for the better in the final report. We appreciate that the last  phase  of  the  mission  is  the  post-election  phase,  which  includes  the  counting and announcement of results, as well as any legal challenges that may arise out of the elections. These can not possibly in any way change the findings from both the pre- election and voting day  observation. They  cannot change the conclusion that the election   fell   short   of   the   dictates  of   the   constitution   of   Zimbabwe   and   the SADC guidelines and principles, based on the pre-election and voting day phases.

b)The reaction from ZANU PF and the Government of Zimbabwe: Through some press conferences,  ZANU  PF  outrightly  attacked  the  SEOM  and  its  findings.  The  attacks were further extended to the Head of SEOM to Zimbabwe, Dr. Nevers Mumba, former Vice President of Zambia. Furthermore, there are reports that alleged that the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for Zimbabwe, Prof. Aron Muriwra, convened a meeting of SADC Ambassadors in Zimbabwe on the 27th of August 2023 at the Ministry Headquarters. According to information in our possession, the meeting sought to further discredit the SEOM and influence Members States through their envoys to disregard the SEOM. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN!! It is a red flag that should worry all democratic and progressive forces in the region.

c)SADC  Secretariat  Press  Statement  issued  on  the 26th of August  2023: Through  this statement, the SADC Secretariat provides reasonable assurance on the credibility of not only the processes embarked upon in observing the Harmonized Elections in Zimbabwe, but the team that makes up the SEOM. We are particularly assured by the inclusion of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), which comprises of judges from the Member States as part of the observation Mission. We view the statement from SADC as issuing a red  flag not  only for  citizens  of  the  Region,  but  stakeholders  with  interest  in  the advancement of the SADC Region.

Based on the foregoing, the Botswana Congress Party expresses its deep appreciation to Dr. Nevers Mumba for his fearless leadership and traversing unchartered territory of speaking   truth   even when   it   goes against   the   interests   of   the   ruling   elites.   It

takes ethical leadership  and  an  unwavering  commitment  to  good  governance  for anyone to do that. We appreciate the SADC Secretariat, through its Head, Mr. Elias Magosi for facilitating a game changing Election Observation Mission. We hope that this is sustained. These developments point to work that needs to be done as a matter of urgency. The Botswana Congress Party invites other progressive and democratic forces to join in demanding the following:

1. An immediate cessation to the swearing in of the declared President Elect, Mr. Emmerson

Mnangagwa. This is based on the concluding observation by SEOM that Zimbabwe’s

Harmonized Election of 2023 fell short of the dictates of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. That is a serious indictment on the election outcome and if Mr. Mnangagwa has an ounce of respect for the people of Zimbabwe and SADC as an organization, he must not continue with the swearing in until this very grave matter has been dealt with to its fullest. We call on all stakeholders to boycott the inauguration should Mr. Mnangagwa decide to proceed.

2. That  the  Chairperson  of  the  Troika  convenes  an urgentmeeting  to  deal  with  the preliminary report from the 2023 Harmonized Elections in Zimbabwe and prepare for an

Extra Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of SADC to deal with the Zimbabwe elections at

the earliest possible moment. The outcome of such Extra-Ordinary meeting should be a

time bound transitional government that will facilitate the conduct of democratic elections in Zimbabwe under the supervision of a SADC Special Vehicle established for that purpose.

Further, we call on all progressive and democratic forces in the SADC Region and beyond to pay particular attention to the Conduct of their Member States in relation to the unfolding Zimbabwean situation. We need to point out that this year, we still have two more elections to be conducted in the region. In addition, eight more elections in the region are expected in 2024. It is therefore critically important that we do not allow SEOM to be undermined by sitting Governments in protection of one of their own, as the protection could     continue     unabated even    in     the forthcoming 10    elections. If incumbent governments are       allowed to       undermine       the       SADC guidelines and principles governing democratic  elections  in  that  manner,  it would  make  us complicit in eroding the little progress we have made in the region to promote democracy. Moreso, if the   SEOM   findings are   undermined,   it would   render SADC citizens complicit in bullying ethical leaders such as Dr. Mumba who stand in the firing line to protect democratic principles and ideals. It would facilitate fulfillment of a deep desire  by  selfish serving governments to  kill  functionality  of  any  credible  election observation process.

We  reiterate  our  position  that  good  democratic  governance  is  the  only  catalyst towards a clean  and  accountable  government  which serves the  interests  of  their people. Good      democratic      governance      is      the      only      hope      for      a prosperous SADC region. Should SADC not undertake its duty as demanded above, we

will consider convening a conference of Non- Governing Political Parties in the SADC Region to explore how we can protect our people from imposed Governments whose only mandates are to protect selfish personal interests!

Finally, we will be closely observing the developments, and the Botswana Government actions in this regard. We urge all progressive forces to do the same in their Countries while taking note of what other countries are doing.

Cde Mpho M. Pheko

BCP Publicity Secretary