Wilbert Mukori |Britain could extend financial support to Zimbabwe to help stabilize its economy and clear its debts with international lenders but such support will be linked to ‘democratic progress, UK Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has said.
“Those are indeed the things that we would try to do to help Zimbabwe forward, but we’ve got to see how the democratic process unfolds,” Johnson said on Wednesday on the side lines of an African Union-EU summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
“I am encouraged by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s words so far (promising democratic change). For as long as the President acts on his words, then Britain is willing to work alongside him and offer all the support we can.”
Only the other day former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan was saying a similar thing.
“The only legitimate and sustainable way out of the Zimbabwe crisis is through elections with integrity in 2018,” he warned.
“The political crisis in Zimbabwe is not yet resolved. The enthusiastic crowds who marched in the streets of Zimbabwe’s major cities … were demanding freedom, not just a change of leadership.”
It is pleasing to see that there is a clear understanding that the departure of Robert Mugabe, after some roughing up at gun-point, does not change anything. The tyrant was the head of an incompetent, corrupt, vote rigging and murderous regime his departure does not mean these things will stop because the same thugs who carried out these things at the behest of the tyrant are the ones still in government. The cabal has chosen Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s right hand man and chief enforcer, as Mugabe’s successor; underlining that it is business as usual!
Until there is meaningful democratic reforms followed by free, fair and credible elections Zimbabwe will never get out of the political and economic mess Mugabe landed us in. Only a democratically elected government will have the mandate and political will to dismantle deeply entrenched political culture of political patronage behind the gross mismanagement and rampant corruption; the two cancers behind the country’s economic meltdown. It is therefore pleasing to note the growing consensus that nothing of substance can ever be accomplished in Zimbabwe until the country implements the democratic reforms paving the way for free and fair elections!
President Mnangagwa the clarion call is simple, loud and clear “HOLD FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS!”
5 Replies to “ARMY LATEST: Boris Johnson Adds Voice To Clarion Call For Free Elections In Zimbabwe”
Comments are closed.
The mistaken belief that outsiders will dictate what happens in zimbabwe is what kept Mugabe in power all these years .placing faith in the AU, SADC, And all others. Until we come up with our own solutions there will be no useful changes. The opposition is busy hoping the UN Britain or some outsider will bring help.Meanwhile back home they refuse any little opportunity to move the conversation forward on the hope of a UN descending on Zimbabwe or Britain dictating to zimbabwe. What wishful thinking.
It is a great pity that whilst everyone else outside Zimbabwe is pushing for meaningful free, fair and credible elections the people who are putting the brakes are none other than Zimbabweans themselves. When the mob marched on 18 November 2017 it was to get Mugabe to resign, free and fair elections was the last thing on their minds. Of course, Mnangagwa and the rest of the Zanu PF dictatorship are hoping that the people will be so happy with Mugabe’s demise they will forgive the cabal for all their past sins including that it was the cabal who imposed the tyrant on the nation.
Zimbabwe is in this mess because people have been slow to think, if they are still capable of such a fit!
constitution can be amended its not cast in stone, but anyway it appears like its going to be suffer continue.
Whilst President Mnangagwa was free to form GNU or whatever coalition admin he wished what he could not do was to postpone next elections. The constitution is clear on elections – before the end on the maximum five years from the last election!
Mr Mnangagwa you could have avoided all this by forming a government of national unit for at least three years, look what you have done ,total mess up of our efforts on that unforgettable Saturday.