Voting in the Diaspora

In 2000 Zimbabwe (Mugabe) stripped those living in the diaspora the right to vote. Their main reason for this was they had been corrupted by foreign media, so in their eyes this was going to be the “Swing Vote”, so how else to avoid a defeat. They withdraw that right and Zimbabwean Nationals abroad are refused to take part in choosing their own Leadership and Government. As long as you are a citizen of Zimbabwe you should have the right to vote regardles of where you are in the world, what happens in Zimbabwe affects Zimbabweans all over the world if not directly then via their families.

Over the years those in the Diaspora has contributed immensely to the Zimbabwean economy through various ways and has kept the country going during the dark days. The Zimabwean government recognised the power and the contributions of those abroad and decided against them taking part in the country’s elections.

After withdrawing the right to vote for those overseas the government was not quiet about the issue, their response was “Come back home and Vote”, a typical bully way of ZANU dealing with such issues. Most Democratic governments will simply allow all their citizens all over the world the right to vote with out being difficult because that is what happens in a democracy.

Zimbabweans overseas have been accused of being influenced by the “oneside” foreign media and how this can affect the way they vote. These are really shallow statesments on the government’s part as those in the diaspora are in contact with family and friends back home and do not have to rely on the media for current affairs. Foreign media does not know about my cousins not going to school or my great-aunt dying from lack of proper healthcare and my family suffering from human rights injustices. Those overseas are affected so surely they should have the right to decide who they employ. If those in the Diaspora are not backing ZANU PF or the new diluted formation it is not because of the BBC, NBC, CNN, ABC or Al Jazeera it is because of the way they are handling the country’s affairs. The government should not forget that they work for US, the people of Zimbabwe.

I urge the GNU to revisit this issue, we cannot rebuild a nation leaving out some of its citizens you can’t ignore the number of Zimbabweans who are living outside of Zimbabwe. Diasporeans are an important part of this jigsaw. As funny as it may Sound ZANU PF has “supporters” in the Diaspora and I am sure they would like to to be included in the electoral system (or maybe not as they know the outcome).

 If Justice Gorge Mutandwa Chiweshe (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission - ZEC Chairperson) wants his organisation to contribute to rebuilding Zimbabwe in a democratic way the Diaspora Electoral Bill should be revised.

This has been one of the funniest things I have heard all week, I could not stop laughing when I heard this but I had to control myself. A million (yes ladies and gentlemen -a million) of Mugabe supporters marching in Harare to show their undying love for the aging President, they want him to rule, lead the People of Zimbabwe till he passes. I ask myself how irresponsible and brainwashed can one be, you have to have disappeared in 1991 or prior to that year only to reappear in the last few weeks to be counted amoungst this crowd or living in some bubble or better yet you must love the  poor quality of life that most Zimbabweans currently endure.  My sources tell me this group was made of made up of War Veterans, women and the “Youth” from certain parts of the country who were ferried to the capital for this so called Solidarity March.

As most of these people are unable to afford such a luxury of travelling to the capital to make fools of themselves public funds and resources were used to make sure that they were present.  Only in Zimbabwe can one party (i.e.ZANU PF) take public funds and use them for personal gain, for us that is taking money from people who do not even support your policies, struggling to make a living and use it as political leverage.The majority of these so-called supporters are not from urban areas, they are from rural areas hence the paid for transport by the tax payer. Imagine if you lived in some area where not much is going on and you were offered a free ride to the capital, free food Coke ne mabunzi weather it is to support Bob and the boys or to spend time in town marching wearing a new t’shirt with some guys face you can’t stand, trust me you will take up the offer – it’s a day out. Maybe its me, maybe there is something wrong with me if there is a Mugabe supporter out there reach out to and give me five good reasons why you would down tools and march with these ”supporters” or better yet why you are gutted you weren’t there. You see the mechanization programme has played a very important role in coercing people to support ZANU PF ,you don’t support us you don’t get any assitance from the governement. Can someone explain the absence of top ZANU officials from this shindig ,oh I forget they couldn’t be be bothered, word is it’s not all cake and sadza in the camp. And as usual civil servants are forced to join in to bulk up the numbers, organisers shut down market stalls so traders could join in the pointless march.Democracy at it’s best right?come on what democracy, Zimbabwe is meant to be a democratic State but we saw people being forced to join in a pointless exercise. 

What is it with war Veterans that they think a fresh new, just government would not recognise their contributions to the Liberation of the people of Zimbabwe. Don’t get me wrong I am in no way disrespecting them ,all I’m saying is even if you support a new regime they will still support you accordingly. Mugabe is only using you as supporters, this has been his tramp card for far too long. If I were elected leader tomorrow ,not that I’m vying for the post ,you will be the first people to get free healthcare,education, housing etc because we appreciate what you went through to liberate Zimbabwe,I might even stretch it to the big man himself…… oh is that not good enough for you Sir as your kids get the best education overseas and you being the healthiest 83 year old in the Southern Hemisphere if not the world. As for Jabulani Sibanda I hope your efforts did not go unnoticed and you got yourself another Farm, if not quit while you are ahead, “Mugabe akanaka”,clown please. I’m off to the Summit