ZIMBABWE has been rated the least democratic country in Southern Africa, scoring lowly on elections, accountability, political freedoms and human dignity.
BY PATRICE MAKOVA
According to the “Democracy Index for Zimbabwe 2013,” launched in Harare last week, the country was rated 30% democratic from the time of the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in 2008 up to present.
In comparison, Zambia was rated 54%, Namibia 55%, while Botswana was 60%, higher than South Africa at 59%.
The Institute of Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) developed Index interrogated whether Zimbabwe was a democracy, where citizens were able to build an accountable, sustainable and popular self-government; where they had the freedom to question government without fear or favour, and influence and control their elected officials including the executive.
Kudakwashe Chitsike, co-editor of the democracy index, said the country was still far from achieving the democratic ideal; over four years after Zanu PF and the two MDC formations signed the GPA.
She said although the situation was much better than it was in 2008 before the GPA, the index showed that the political system did not meet even the basic requirements of democracy such as civil and political rights.
Chitsike, who is also a lawyer and director of the Research and Advocacy Unit, said the country’s scored below 50% on all the five key areas assessed by the team of experts.
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The index noted that elections were held regularly to promote a façade of democracy, but were marred by violence, terror and corruption.
“The electoral process and systems are contentious and lack the ability to offer citizens any real choice or opportunities to hold the leadership to account,” reads the index.
It said elections have been characterised by the curtailment of real choices for citizens, resulting in fewer women contesting them. On civil and political rights, the index said there was widespread suppression of political freedoms in order to restrict political access and repress competition for power.
“Citizens security is threatened by those who hold power and thus citizens do not believe they can influence decision-making,” reads the index.
It further noted that the State provided little opportunity for citizens to participate.
“Patterns of participation are dominated by patronage networks and political violence. Women’s participation is specifically hampered by a highly patriarchal political environment” .
The Zimbabwe Democracy Index was co-authored by several Zimbabwe women experts, among them, Transparency International Zimbabwe director, Mary Jane-Ncube, Chitsike, Tsitsi Mhlanga from Idasa and Barbra Nyangairi of Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN).
Human rights lawyers, Rumbidzai Dube and Revai Makanje were also part of the experts.
New constitution vital: Eaglestone
Amy Eaglestone, who co-edited the index, was hopeful that the democratic situation in the country would improve if the draft constitution is adopted in Saturday’s referendum.
She said the country had several good laws, but lacked the culture of democratic implementation of such legislation.
Eaglestone cited the existence of laws to protect women from physical and sexual abuse, which were not being utilised.
