Standing as an independent vis a vis splitting of the vote There has been much acrimonious discourse since last Friday which was generated by the sudden and unprecedented emergence of independent parliamentary and council candidates in scores of constituencies. At the beginning of this week the independent candidates, myself included, were censured and labelled as rebels. The main point made by critics has been that the independents will split the vote in a constituency. Spearheading the criticism was Prof Jonathan Moyo, who used his own example in Tsholotsho, to argue against the idea of party members standing as independent candidates. No two constituencies are the same and no two candidates are the same. In fact no politician in Zimbabwe has a political history that is mired in such controversy or has generated as many enemies in both Zanu-PF and MDC-T as Moyo’s. Let me use an imaginary situation to prove Moyo’s theory wrong. Honourable Chibhanzi performance as an MP in one Midlands constituency has been dismal. After his inaugural speech in Parliament in 2008, he opened his mouth in the House only once, when he heckled a member of a rival party. His performance in developing the constituency was equally catastrophic. In fact throughout his five-year term he organised only one report-back meeting. There were numerous allegations of abuse of the Constituency Development Fund CDF. Honourable Chibhanzi is accused of breaking one marriage in which the husband lives in Johannesburg and of impregnating a school-girl. Because he has become so powerful no action is taken against him. By January 2013 he has become extremely unpopular – hated by the very people who voted him into office. In frustration and desperation the disgruntled people of the constituency approach a popular headmaster with a request that he represents them at the next elections. As election day approaches it is clear that Hon Chibhanzi stands little chance of winning a second term. But Chibhanzi is a cunning character and with the backing of the party he wins a controversial confirmation. The people are up in arms. They feel cheated and vow to vote for the candidate of a rival political party which is very unpopular in the constituency. Between them Chibhanzi and the candidate of the rival party command very little support. Few attend their meetings. Chibhanzi slaughters a bull at every poorly attended meeting. He brings truck-loads of beer. The people are not interested. Meanwhile thousands attend the headmaster’s rallies after he decides to stand as an independent at the instigation of supporters. They say they don’t care about beef and beer. They say they are only interested in a secure future. Witnessing this, the party leadership accuses the headmaster of splitting the vote. What do you think?
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 19:24:32 +0000
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