We reiterate that the results of the Presidential election
as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and as endorsed by the
Constitutional Court; were not a true reflection of the will of the people. We
further maintain that according to our computation, our candidate Advocate
Nelson Chamisa emerged as a clear winner in the contest.
One year later, the MDC re-affirms its stance NOT to
recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa as the duly elected President of Zimbabwe.
Further, the MDC notes with serious concern the ever worsening socio-economic
and human rights situation in the country during the past year.
Indeed Zimbabweans have had to endure ever increasing
prices of basic commodities, endless queues, fuel shortages, water rationing,
electricity load shedding and massive unemployment, among other challenges. The
shortages and the spiraling prices are just but a symptom of an underlying
political crisis of legitimacy.
It is our strong view that the current regime has no
capacity to resolve the ever worsening crisis in Zimbabwe and as a way forward,
the MDC recommends a clear roadmap as encapsulated in the recently launched
RELOAD strategy document.
As part of addressing the deeper political crisis, RELOAD
recommends the following five steps as a prerequisite for a return to
legitimacy, confidence and normalcy in Zimbabwe:
1. Pressure (Political and Diplomatic)
Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives ordinary
Zimbabweans the right to petition and pressure their government on any issue of
concern. The MDC will thus mobilize Zimbabweans across the spectrum for
purposes of attaining national consensus and convergence. Attendant to the
political pressure is diplomatic pressure in which the region, Africa and the
broader international community will be sensitized so that international
pressure can be brought to bear for the regime in Harare to realize that there
has to be sincere dialogue for the nation to agree on a way out of this mammoth
national crisis.
2. National Dialogue
We envisage sincere and honest dialogue among Zimbabweans
to locate a prudent exit point out of this monumental national crisis. As such
a credible, bankable, legitimate process of dialogue fully guaranteed by the
international community with specific deliverables benchmarks and timelines
through a mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator is a must.
3. National Transitional Mechanism
The sincere dialogue must yield an agreed framework and
agreed positions that must spur this country from the current political and
economic gridlock arising out of a pilfered plebiscite. The terms and details
around this National Transitional Mechanism must be agreed at the dialogue
table.
4. Comprehensive Reform Agenda
Zimbabwe requires comprehensive reforms that include
political, economic, security, legal, media and electoral reforms. A robust
reform agenda will have to be implemented as a prelude to poising the country
towards a genuinely free, fair and credible electoral process.
5. Free and Fair Elections
The holding of a truly free, fair and credible election is
paramount to Zimbabwe. It is only such an election that will return the
confidence and legitimacy that the country sorely needs so that it takes its
rightful place among the family of nations. It thus answers to the legitimacy
question that has dogged Zimbabwe since 2000.
The MDC firmly believes that this roadmap will address the
deeper crisis of legitimacy that has brought the country and its citizens to
the despicable plumbing depths of penury, starvation and suffering.
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