People of Zimbabwe Reject a Militarised Electoral Process

Owen Dhliwayo

As much as most people in Zimbabwe appreciate the role of the military in the subsequent resignation of Robert Mugabe from the presidency, they are apprehensive about the military playing a significant and clear role in political matters. According to a recent Afrobarometer survey, 41% of Zimbabweans believed that the military intervention that took place in November of 2017 was the right thing to do, whereas 40% alluded to the fact that it was wrong but necessary with 12% outrightly saying it was a wrong thing to do. At the same time, there was a significant percentage of people who were sceptical about the prospect of the election results being announced or to be counted fairly as they view the role of the military with disdain and mistrust.

In Zimbabwe there are two issues that you cannot talk about in one breath in polite company - that is the military and politics. The mere mention of the two subjects in one cluster brings with it an ultimate concern that make it very uncomfortable. The military’s involvement in politics has been enhanced by the need to maintain their interests because they believe that power and influence is intertwined with the dynamics of Zanu PF and not the government. Zimbabwe can safely be classified as a military regime due to its governance framework. The November 2017 celebrated incident was a process whereby the military intervened to control the political power dynamics that it was viewing as drifting away from its point of influence. According to Jenkins and Kposowa (1992), the centrality of the military to the state’s claim on legitimate violence makes it prone to use this to dominate politically and especially, if civilian institutions are weak. Our military wields great political power and have invaded civilian institutions to be at the centre of the political influence in Zimbabwe.

From the Afrobarometer survey, 68% of the respondents agree very strongly that the armed forces are for the external defence and security of the country and should not be involved in politics. In other words, the respondents are saying that the best contribution of the military is precisely not be ideologically predictive nor loyally partisan. The 2018 elections is so important like any other election before, but it will be good for the country if the military will only safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation and not the territorial dominance of Zanu PF. The Afrobarometer survey has created an enormous and important political debate in Zimbabwe as we head towards the harmonised elections on 30 July 2018. Demographic information from the survey show that our communities are highly polarised and they stand on extreme ends of the political game. Therefore, in that polarised landscape the military ought to be neutral and ensure smooth transition of political processes without it interfering.

The Afrobarometer results will be useful in bringing about pointers on what Zimbabweans can choose as their leadership. The military must be confined to the barracks, despite having assisted in the removal of Robert Mugabe who had become a global challenge in undermining the freedom of the people. PYD as a community based organisation is of the belief that the military should not be involved in the electoral processes as this is detrimental to development, social justice and cohesion.