Until recently the question for many Zimbabweans was to vote or not to vote. But following opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s withdrawal from the presidential run-off, the election and the whole democratic process have been compromised.
Now the only question is what next for Zimbabwe?
Tsvangirai pulled out of the 27 June run-off after a governing party militia blocked his supporters from attending a major rally in Harare on Sunday, 22 June, the head of an election observer team said.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader said there were several reasons for his decision to withdraw. These include the state sponsored violence, the inability of the MDC to campaign and the systematic persecution of its members, the lack of access to media, and the rigging of the election by the ruling Zanu PF regime.
Partners impeded
The situation for our partners and opposition supporters has grown increasingly precarious since the general election in March.
‘It is outrageous that our partners are the object of such terror.’
‘Thousands of Zimbabweans are dependent on food aid and essential medicine,’ says William Anderson, Christian Aid’s country manager in Harare. ‘It is imperative that the government grant access to humanitarian agencies immediately.’
Christian Aid partner organisations, in line with all such organisations, have been unable to do any meaningful work since the government ordered the suspension of all field work on 4 June. Several of the organisations have received threatening visits from government militias.
‘There must be no further intimidation of NGOs by the government,’ Anderson continues. ‘Our partner organisations perform purely humanitarian actions and it is outrageous that they are the object of this terror.’
All night vigils or 'pungwes' have been happening across the country for the last fortnight, terrorising the nation into singing ‘patriotic’ songs and enduring humiliation and intimidation on a scale not seen in the country since the civil war.
‘Seeds of hatred’
With nearly a hundred confirmed dead, thousands missing and injured, President Mugabe has ensured another generation is scarred by violence and brutality.
Anderson says: ‘These seeds of hatred, sown across the nation, are of great concern to the Church as it struggles to cope under such a dark cloud of oppression.’
Humanitarian organisations, including Christian Aid partners, are struggling to fulfil their mandate. Most staff are either on leave or at home.
What next?
Christian Aid will continue to support those partners courageous enough to speak out, as well as providing shelter and relief to those worst affected by the continued violence and the political fallout.
But while Christian Aid hopes for a return to 'normal' as soon as possible, the burden now placed on relief organisations has trebled.
Many thousands of HIV patients have been prevented from receiving essential medicine and food aid in the last three months; the death toll from this period of madness will continue to rise as the nation plunges into the abyss.
Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a general election on 29 March, earning 48% of the vote compared to 43% according to the government’s own count. The opposition claimed it had won a majority outright and that no runoff was needed.