31st of July is going to come and pass but nobody knows what the future holds for Zimbabwe. If one of the contesting parties claims victory in this coming election speculation is high on the fate of the losing candidates and their supporters. As a nation I believe it is high time we go into this election with the mind of a gambler. Win or lose we just have to move on and not to go back to another 2008 era.

My friends in Kenya always tell me that Zimbabwe is like a copy of everything Kenya, and I tried to argue but when I was taken through all the political transitions Kenya went through, and Zimbabwe followed suite I got the picture but I wasn’t convinced on the point of leadership. Kenya was involved in a bloody and disputed election in 2007, which was later, resolved through an inclusive government. A few years later Kenya passed a new constitution and after that they held elections which some may say was peaceful whilst others blamed the invisible hand, which helped propel Uhuru Kenyatta to power. Well I noted the argument on rigging was based on the political affiliation and tribe these two friends of mine belonged to in Kenya. I was told African politics also has roots in tribe and religious beliefs just like what we are experiencing here in Zimbabwe when a running candidate was labeled a tribalist just because he is fighting the injustices people from his region experienced in the past 33 years.

Zimbabweans voted in 2008 and the dispute over the election result brought about the inclusive government and we now wait for elections on the 31st of July under a new charter, which was endorsed earlier this year. The only difference in our transition phase to that of Kenya is in the change of leadership. Just like ZANU-PF which has been in power for the past 33years, Kenya’s Kenya African National Union (KANU) ruled for nearly 40 years since independence and was defeated by the National Rainbow Coalition. If this is the same fate, which is going to face the revolutionary party, then maybe it could be true that were copying everything from Kenya.

The rumour went out this morning

‘They are about to ‘pick up’ particular ‘target’ people from civil society’

(for many have been speaking publically of their worries of rigging and corruption
and producing evidence  and reports to back their claims)
and Sunday is a good day to make arrests as there is no court open to bring a complaint

And we look, again, at the power that  fear can unleash on our energy
how one ‘reliable source of information’ can lead us away from our centers

years ago we responded to these threats by closing down
moving out of our homes/offices – our places of safety – taking refuge until normal life could resume

Today it feels different
a phone-tree between people is activated
the connections with webs already formed is alerted
we close the gates
(burn the Tamil cleansing smoke in the center of the herb spiral – if that calls to you)

make the tea
and watch the sun spread light into the Sunday garden

I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I came across a Zanu PF campaign insert in today’s Herald.

That politicians will say anything to get votes is standard fare for all campaigns, yet the Zanu PF brief shows pictures of blacks being chased by white cops with dogs on leashes back in the 1960s.  1896 photos of Ndebeles shackled.  A sign outside a motel that says “This motel is not multi-racial.” Then we have Joshua Nkomo walking with Fidel Castro, Nkomo and Mugabe smiling at a press conference decades ago, that famous picture of Lookout Masuku with the man then known as Rex Nhongo, gets one thinking where exactly this party locates its relevance in Zimbabwe’s contemporary political space and discourse.

If a party keeps reminding voters of the past 100 years, surely it must be questioned if it has any clue about the future of the nation.

Only the foolish dismiss history’s relevance to a nation’s collective memory, but is that what Zimbabweans want, to be constantly reminded about the “evil settlers?”

Some folks have said Zanu PF has only succeeded in alienating its erstwhile supporters by that obsession with politics of belligerence where anyone who holds divergent views is quickly labeled an associate of the settlers. Even loyal supporters who do not agree with some of the nonsense risks expulsion and lumped together with MDC as a puppet of imperialist!

Just recall Jonathan Samkange who actually sued a fellow “party cadre” after the comrade said Samukange was an MDC plant. Samkange sued, saying that accusation was enough to get him killed!

“Defendant, in associating the plaintiff with the MDC party, intended to injure plaintiff’s reputation and personal security especially in light of Zanu-PF’s slogan, namely, ‘Down with MDC’ means kill MDC members. Defendant is inviting Zanu-PF members to kill plaintiff. The threat is real and potentially injurious to plaintiff’s physical being, feeling and association with other members of the Mudzi community,” Samkange said in papers filed in the Harare High Court.”

That Zanu PF stokes racial hatred is fact well known, and this campaign has become no different, but I would like to believe voters are more sophisticated than Zanu PF imagines.

As Tsvangirai said the other week: “Just wear their T-shirts, but you know what is deep down your heart.”

Despite challenges with text messaging via international gateways, Kubatana continues to receive on-the-ground feedback and reports from our subscribers across the country ahead of Zimbabwe’s Harmonised Election 31 July. Read some of their comments below. You can get more citizen feedback here, here and here.

• Sanctions off first then we can have free & fair elections
• Mugabe gave Chombo a directive to scrap off the bills as party of his campaign, Grace confirmed this at a rally but this time Zanu will not go away with it.
• PTUZ Masvingo provincial chair investigating suspected deliberate omission of its members on recruitment of polling officers.
• Let whole world know that all civil servants who’ve been engaged by ZEC during 31 July Election & unfortunately deployed outside their wards shall be technically deprived of their right to vote. Remember they missed out Special Vote so who will decide 4 them? This is not fare please let it be corrected.
• CIO disturbing JOMIC observer workshop in Concession
• I would like to say rest in peace to Chiwoniso Maraire. She was a mbira guru. The void she has left in the musical circles is very difficult to fill.
• Zanu PF irikufamba mudzimba vachinyora mazita evanhu vakaregister kuvhota (Zanu PF is going door-to-door taking down names of people who have registered to vote). This is in Glendale Mazowe
• Zanu PF youths are terrorising vendors at Budiriro 1 shops
• Tiri kumandikidzwa kuenda kumapungwe kuno kumazowe south (Here in Mazowe South we’re being forced to go to all night rallies)
• I think Zimbabweans this is the only opportunity we have get to change the leaders. They force us to do things we don’t want
• If anybody has cheated the elections by any chance their party must be disqualified otherwise voting will be violating our rights as citizens.
• Shamva road from Bindura they have not finished constructing this road, its been years.
• Wad 7 rural in Chipinge has Zanu PF youth beating MDC-T. Activities, pulling MDC-T posters
• In Makonde a Zanu-PF youth known as Machaya at Godzi is removing MDC posters and once threatened a certain boy saying he should surrender MDC t/shirt to him
• Chombo yesterday promised Zanu supporters he has 300 stands to allocate them at a rally in white cliff
• Being in power for 33 years but as a president he cant even address his so called supporters in their language Ndebele what’s wrong?
• This unity did not make it up because Zanu pf is full of cheaters. How can new voters roll leak to the ward. I saw my name in a new ward voter’s roll
• Minister Biti & MDC-T party, do u still remember +3000 Zimpost & Telone workers who were dismissed in 2004 by Zanu-PF government which claimed we wanted a regime change in favour of MDC. You promised to look into this issue but until now we haven’t been paid any
• Vanhu vezanu varikufamba muBudiriro 5 door by door vachitsvaga vanhu vakaregesterea muBudiriro. Kana vavuwana varikuda zita neID number. (People from Zanu are going door-to-door in Budiriro 5, looking for people who have registered to vote. When they find them, they are asking for their names and ID numbers).
• As we speak we do not have a good enough candidate to be a president all of them are words.
• Especially in Hurungwe what we need now is ROADS kwaChief MJinga these cars don’t last a season
• I believe going about lying, verbally abusing opponents and exploiting people’s fears should all amount to voter cheating and rigging. We all vote in pursuit for better lives. We want, especially, Zanu PF to tell the electorate what miracles can they achieve in 5 years which they couldn’t in 33 years. Its not about MDCs or and parties. We want a better Zim which we can all be proud of. We are tired of poverty and idleness. MDC T just happens to be the only other choice. In life the only thing that brings hope is change. I’m in Chitungwiza
• Pane murume anozviti Doglous Kwiri anozvidaidza nerekuti comrade masango.he is intimidating MDC Members in Mvuma, zimbabwe especially muradzikwa tinashe and paul Banda mayouths eMDC T. Yesterday akadambura maposters eMDC.achiti lam above the law. Hanzi even Mugabe knows that. we have not reported the case  to the police because he threatened these two youths with a gun saying by the end of this month they will be dead or disappeared. Many people are afraid of this holigan. I urge Zimbabwe to have peace. (There is a guy named Douglas Kwiri he calls himself comrade Masango. He is intimidating MDC members in Mvuma, Zimbabwe especially Muradzikwa Tinashe and Paul Banda, youths of the MDC-T. Yesterday he removed MDC posters bragging he is above the law and that even Mugabe knows that. We have not reported the matter to the police because he threatened these two youths with a gun saying by the end of this month they will be dead or will disappear. Many people are afraid of this hooligan. I urge Zimbabweans to have peace)
• We all know Zanu PF thugs are burning the midnight oil every day to come up with ways to rig the elections. I encourage all Zimbabweans to go out in massive to vote them out.
• Please zuro chaiye Comrade Masango vakadambura maposters e Mdc t.he resides pa athens mine compound.ane pfuti yaari kutyityidzira vanhu nayo (Yesterday comrade Masango removed MDC posters. He resides at Athens mine compound. He is using a gun to intimidate people)
• Ndanga ndiri kwaZvimba nhasi apo mudhara anga aine rally havasi vanhu vanga aripo ndazobvunzawo kuti mose muri kutsigira bato here ndasekwa zvisingaiti , mumwe ndiye azonditi ‘ Tauya kuzooneka mudhara ‘ (I was in Zvimba today where Mugabe was having a rally. I asked all the people who had gathered if they were really supporting Zanu and they laughed at me. One told me that he was there to bid farewell to Mugabe)
• Here in Gweru I know this guy who z a headmaster 4rm a certain school managed to get a piece of land although he is not a war vet or vocal Zanu-PF supporter. However, to a greater extent those who are not clever enough or did not have connections everywhere were unable to get the land. All in all only well known Zanu supporters, war vets and senior police and army officers managed to get farms  according to my view right here in Gweru
• Ask Zaka Central outgoing MP Harrison Mudzuri why he never did anything for Chinyaradza Secondary School with CDF yet he is a former student and passes by the school in his red Isuzu regularly.
• Mhondoro Mubaira people are being harassed if you are found that you are not a Zanu PF member!
• Pamberi neku winner A new Zimbabwe means TSVANGIRAI in Office, Mushohwe is wasting time, MUTARE WEST STRONG HOLD 4 MDC-T
• Three days ago I was chased by Zanu-PF district chairman at e meeting held at Chikundu growth point being accused to be a suspected MDC-T supporter name of chair Shadreck Mutichakwa
• MP 4 Zaka West Dumbu Festus has drilled boreholes but the project was left unfinished, some boreholes have no pipe and not assembled

Had a chat with my older ‘brother’ the other day. We are now involved in the same project, and know where the other stands politically because when I was elected in 2002, on an MDC ticket, to City Council, he was not elected, on the Zanu PF ticket. Since then, I have left the MDC, and not been elected as an Independent, and he was not been elected as Zanu PF. This time, I am not standing, independently, and he is not standing, as Zanu PF (although he is still a member).

The bit that got me going – he says, “these papers, they tell lies.”

I agree. Papers, journalists, they all tell lies. Almost as many as politicians.

“These other papers, they should be banned.”

But, I argue, I know the Herald tells lies. I have been a part of events, and read about it in the Herald the next day, and what they wrote did not happen. All lies. So if you want to ban one, you have to ban them all.

“No, the Herald does not lie.”

But I was there, I was central to events, and what the Herald reported did not happen. They told lies. If you ban one, you ban them all.

“But the Herald is a government paper.”

As if this makes any difference! And now I am just thinking. What hold does the government (which is only partly made up of his former ruling party) have on his mind. When he believes this. Which basically means that he is calling me, standing right here in front of him, a liar. Because my story demonstrates (proves) that which he is not able to hear. That the Herald writes lies. That half of the government (his party) is only half of the government, and being made up of politicians, they are liars.

It will take quite some time to unravel some alternate realities.

A statement just in from ZESN:

HARARE, 25 July 2013 – With a few days left to the Harmonised Elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is appealing to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to publish the final list of polling stations ahead of the polls to enable party agents and observer groups to deploy. ZESN urges ZEC to release the final list in advance in case there are additional polling stations or any changes to the initial polling station list. This would ensure there is sufficient time for the deployment of party agents and observers to the new polling stations.

At a briefing for international, regional and local observers on Wednesday, 24 July, ZEC announced that the final list of polling stations would be published on the actual polling day. While ZESN commends ZEC for being aware of the concerns raised after the March, 16 Referendum on the inadequacy of polling stations in highly populated areas, ZESN is concerned that the initial list published did not address some of the problems noted during the referendum. For example, Epworth, Ward 7 according to the 2012 Census has a population of 39,031 people. ZESN estimates there are 22,638 eligible voters in the ward. However, for the 2013 Constitutional Referendum there was only one polling station in Epworth Ward 7.

ZESN therefore appeals to ZEC to release the list of polling stations in advance as part of international good practice and, in order to enhance transparency and accountability of the whole electoral process.  ZESN is concerned that the last minute publishing of polling stations provides limited time for interventions on the adequacy and accessibility of polling stations. We note that the final list will be published in the print media. However, ZESN is concerned that there is no guarantee every voter will have access to the newspapers to access the final list of the polling stations.

“We urge ZEC to release the final list in advance in the spirit of promoting transparency, credibility and the smooth running of the elections as this is also in line with good international practices”, said ZESN Chairperson, Dr Solomon Zwana.

The Network encourages ZEC to ensure that polling stations are adequate to avoid long queues that may discourage potential voters from voting. ZEC should distribute the polling stations based on demand and the potential number of voters in each ward.

ZESN calls upon ZEC to seriously take all concerns raised to ensure the credibility of the impending harmonised election and to ensure that every voter has adequate information about where to cast their vote in good time. ZESN urges ZEC to ensure that there are adequate polling stations to ensure that all eligible are processed timeously. ZESN remains committed to promoting a free and fair election in Zimbabwe.//Ends

For more information please contact the ZESN Chairperson REV Dr Solomon Zwana on +263 773 434 169 or the ZESN Director Mrs Rindai Chipfunde Vava on +263 771 692 039