The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has announced that it will participate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections under protest. According to the party’s spokesman, Paul Themba Nyathi, MDC has abandoned plans to boycott the vote to protest political violence and unfair voting conditions in Zimbabwe. (4-FEB-05)
This article first appeared in yesterday’s edition of the Zimbabwean newspaper the Daily News. It has been edited for republication here.
“We participate under protest, We participate to keep the flames of hope for change alive,” said Nyathi. The move to participate in this year’s elections come after the MDC had resolved to boycott participation in all elections to protest biased electoral laws and to demand an end to intimidation and to media and security laws that prevent fair campaigning.
Boycott gives Zanu PF the victory, participation legitimises a rigged result
Last year the MDC boycotted two parliamentary by-elections and several local urban and rural council elections, resulting in Zanu PF getting the seats unopposed. Political analysts at home and abroad, civil society and the general populace however, urged the opposition party to reconsider its stance which they said favoured the ruling party, accused of stifling democracy in Zimbabwe. A number of small opposition parties had indicated their willingness to participate in the poll, a move which analysts said could have legitimized a Zanu PF victory. Other analysts pointed out that Zanu PF was mired in intra-party divisions which could benefit the MDC, come March 31.
