SINCE Zimbabwe’s attainment of independence in 1980, nationals eligible to vote have every five years participated in general elections to select their leaders.
The ruling party, Zanu PF, have dominated polls for the past 43 years.
And when a real challenge to Zanu PF’s long rule emerged in 2000, it brought some excitement on the political arena, although it has been a rough ride for opposition political parties.
It has also not been easy for the electorate that has been caught in between.
Nonetheless, the existence of the opposition in the country’s political matrix is most welcome and good for our democracy and should be encouraged by people going to vote in every election.
While the opposition has unsuccessfully attempted to dislodge Zanu PF from power for the past 23 years, it is, however, encouraging that it has not relented. It is heartening that tomorrow the ruling party will again face a formidable challenge to its long-established dominance.
It should be commended that Zimbabwe actually has a pesky opposition gusty enough to literally take the Zanu PF bull by the horns and wrestle it in an election arena which is perennially lopsided in favour of the ruling party.
That what we may consider as today’s main opposition, the Citizens Coalition for Change and other opposition parties have stuck to their guns and resolutely determined to ensure their relevance in the country’s journey to true democracy, is exactly the perfect spirit for Zimbabwe’s political maturity.
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Despite the many challenges the electorate has faced this election season, which include intimidation, bribery and terror tactics to coerce them to vote for certain parties and individuals which has bred voter apathy, we sincerely hope that tomorrow all registered voters will exorcise the demon of apathy and troop to polling stations to exercise their right to choose the leaders they desire.
Every one of the more than six million Zimbabweans who made the enlightened decision to register to vote should make time to visit polling stations to decide their and the country’s future.
This is the only time, after every five years, ordinary citizens flex their power and no eligible voter worth their salt should miss this golden opportunity.
The Constitution and Electoral Act give every citizen the right to “vote in all elections and referendums … and to do so in secret”, meaning that all voters should resist any attempts to violate the secrecy of their ballot.
Zimbabweans must be prepared and ready to wake up tomorrow to go and vote.
Zimbabwe will cease to be a nation if eligible voters fail to exercise this right for whatever reason.
Rumours that possible victimisation and violence awaits those who freely exercise their right to choose has in the past bred apathy as people fear for their lives. We beseech voters not to be dissuaded from partaking in this election because it is their right. They should, therefore, not deny themselves this right.
