New year: Political uncertainty still shrouds the nation

News
BY NQABA MATSHAZI ZIMBABWE today enters 2012 the same way it entered the previous year, uncertain what political route the country will take for the next 12 months.Just as towards the end of 2010, the Zanu PF conference last year made resounding resolutions that elections would be held in the following year, but so far this call has come to nought.

To add to the uncertainty is the confusion over the constitutional reforms, with the three parties trading accusations and counter-accusations on who was to blame for the delay in completing the drafting of the new supreme law for the country.

 

The new constitution, ideally, should be a precursor to holding fresh polls, but Zanu PF and more recently MDC-T seem willing to head to elections before the completion of the drafting of the constitution.

What complicates matters further is Zanu PF’s strong resolve to have the return of the local currency, reigniting memories of hyper-inflation and money shortages, which dogged the country for most of the last decade.

Political analyst Dumisani Nkomo reckons that 2012 will be very eventful, as he expected the conclusion of the drafting of the constitution. He however, has doubts on whether elections will be held this year.

“There is likely to be the conclusion of the constitution, although I don’t think there will be elections,” he said.

Nkomo said there was likely to be a lot of “shadow expecting” as the parties tried, as in the past year, to outdo each other politically and economically. “I know it is one of their (Zanu PF conference) resolutions, but bringing back the Zimbabwe dollar will be the height of madness,” he said.Nkomo has fears that the economy would suffer this year as the political strain would take its toll.

Another political analyst, Effie Ncube, said despite Zanu PF’s push for an election, the party was unlikely to get its way if it continues to refuse implementation of democratic reforms. “Sadc and the international community are likely to resist any elections and since Zanu PF is dragging its feet in democratising the country, it will not be possible to hold elections,” he said.

Ncube doubted whether there would be any significant changes on the political front, with all parties trying to stamp their authority on the electorate.

He predicted a surge in violence with rural areas likely to be the worst affected.

Ncube agrees with Nkomo that the most exciting development of 2012 was likely to be the conclusion of the drafting of the constitution. The draft constitution will be taken for a referendum.

 

Zanu pf, mdc factions at loggerheads over elections

 

Zanu PF has been angling for elections for the past two years, but so far these calls have been rebuffed by its coalition partners, MDC and MDC-T, whose leaders want reforms before any polls are held.

MDC and MDC-T have a likely ally in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), which has been insisting that the country should first implement an electoral roadmap before polls. But Zanu PF is increasingly getting agitated and impatient, claiming the regional body is overstepping its terms of reference.