DA to challenge ‘involvement’ of Zanu-PF in upcoming elections

The Democratic Alliance(DA) says it will do everything to ensure that the Zimbabwe Liberation Party ZANU-PF is barred from interfering and playing any role in observing the electoral process for the 29 May elections.

Zimbabwe’s ruling party will reportedly help the ANC bolster its campaign for the hotly-contested upcoming elections. 

DA AGAINST ZANU-PF OBSERVING UPCOMING ELECTIONS 

According to The Herald, Zanu-PF Secretary-General Dr Obert Mpofu said they have been in touch with the ANC.

The publication quoted Mpofu saying what’s happening in South Africa is an internal issue which they are closely monitoring. 

“I cannot rule out the fact that we can go and assist if they need assistance from us. There are pressing issues that need to be addressed by South Africans on the political developments taking place there,” Mpofu said.

The DA said Zanu-PF has rigged Zimbabwe’s elections many times over; they will not do it here in South Africa. 

The party said it would lodge an official complaint with the Electoral Commission (IEC) over this direct political interference in the election and the potential harm it could bring to the credibility of the outcome. 

Earlier this year, the DA, which is the official opposition in the country also wrote to the United States Government asking for election observers to be deployed in Mzansi.

The DA also called on countries in the West not only to throw resources to observe the upcoming elections, but also to consider setting up parallel voting tabular processes.

The DA was criticised by several political parties and civil society organisations for not having faith in the IEC and the country’s sovereignty.

RISE MZANSI SAYS ANC IS FAST LEGITIMACY AMONG VOTERS

Newly-formed political party Rise Mzansi also raised its concerns about the possible involvement of Zanu-PF in the upcoming elections.  

The party said it is astounding, given that Zimbabwe has a history of rigged elections, election violence, and general political intolerance.

The party’s national spokesperson Gugu Ndima said the idea that the ANC and, by extension government would cosy up with Zanu-PF is shocking but not unexpected. 

Ndima said this isn’t unexpected as the ANC is fast losing legitimacy among voters, who have indicated that they are ready to vote for new leaders, particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and the national level.

“This ANC overture is no different from the DA writing to the United States Government requesting election observers. This must, in the same breath, be condemned as a stunt and part of the DA’s ploy to ingratiate itself in US politics, which are also marked by elections controversy,” Ndima said.