HARARE – Opposition Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) president Linda Masarira has predicted poll apathy among the masses, as she also took a dig at parties that have taken a half-hearted approach or failed to denounce glaring irregularities within the country’s electoral space.
Speaking to ZimLive, the outspoken politician chronicled her own struggles when she sought elusive nomination as one of the presidential candidates.
She reckons the electoral playing field remains uneven ahead of the crunch August 23 poll.
Masarira said she supported Tuesday’s surprise decision by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora to withdraw his presidential bid citing what he felt was a targeted crackdown on his party by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
In withdrawing from the presidential race, Mwonzora also cited the barring of 87 MDC-T national assembly candidates from contesting the poll by ZEC following glitches within electronic bank transfer systems in the country.
Mwonzora described the poll as a “sham and a farce” whose outcome he said will not reflect a democratic society.
Likewise, Masarira who met similar hurdles while seeking nomination as a presidential candidate, said she was cognisant of the electoral anomalies despite pursuing her presidential ambitions to contest in the elections.
“Sometime ago, I registered my concerns about the flawed delimitation report and suggested that the process be redone,” she said.
“Ironically, myself included had settled to just go into the elections without the contentious issues being addressed.
“Beyond the delimitation report was also the issue of the unconstitutional amendment of the constitution on the provincial Council seats, which LEAD challenged SI 114 of 2023 demanding a declaration of constitutional invalidity of the statutory instrument.
“The electoral amendment bill was passed into law, way after the proclamation date, which means it is invalid for use for 2023 harmonized elections.
“Apparently, ZEC chose to unilaterally and illegally pick some provisions from the amendment of the Electoral Act.
“Sadly, because of desperation for elections, most political parties decided to ignore all these glaring irregularities.
“Basing on these facts, 2023 elections are already a sham and not worth the salt.
“Vamwe vachazoda kuchema mavara azara ivhu (some will cry foul) after elections but it will be too late.
“There is no electoral spirit within the masses, no electoral excitement at all. My conclusion is voter apathy is real this coming election,” Masarira said.
