Of the many important polls scheduled to be held in Africa this year, the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe are among them. Unfortunately, external forces are already attempting to interfere with the election and replace the government with a puppet leader using millions of dollars to influence the outcome.
Recently, President Mnangagwa launched a mission to clean up bogus NGOs, which was criticized as an attack on freedom. However, it seems that he had a good reason to do so.
US, UK bid to spoil Zimbabwe elections
According to a report in the “Herald”, the United States and the United Kingdom are determined to meddle in elections of Zimbabwe by enlisting non-governmental organizations and some media outlets to do their bidding. The report details how the US is offering $37 million to NGOs to stealthily interfere in the forthcoming elections. Presidential spokesperson and Deputy Chief Secretary (Communications) in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr. George Charamba, stated that the Government is aware of the situation and would not hesitate to clampdown on subversive elements, especially with the Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Bill becoming a law.
Over the past year, the US has attempted to sent “monitors” to Zimbabwe but their efforts have been thwarted by the authorities. Mr. Charamba warns that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that there will be more attempts to meddle as the election approaches. He also mentions that Zimbabwe has deported several deputations from American institutions including the International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute NDI who tried to force themselves into the country under the pretext of long-term monitoring of local elections.
Read More: Nigeria Election: USA did it in 2015 it might do it again in 2023
According to reports, the US frequently deploys such “monitors” in Africa. For example, during Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly election, the IRI and the NDI sent a 40-member joint international election observation. As the election approached, the US’s mission became more daring, scouting for conducts to funnel illicit money into Nigeria and get manpower to trigger chaos if the opposition lost.
Furthermore, as per the report, the US Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, Mr Robert Scott was set to visit Zimbabwe to push for his country’s interests and interfere in Zimbabwe’s electoral process through a meeting with Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba.
In a befitting response, Mr Charamba said that Scott must wait for an “agreement between America and Zimbabwe before the US can have the right of audience with the chairperson of ZEC. He also stated that Zimbabwe will assert its sovereignty.” Mr. Charamba also said that meetings are being staged even inside Zimbabwe to plan and map mechanisms for pushing illicit funds to support the opposition which would amplify messages of dissatisfaction with the electoral process from opposition members.
US, UK worried over Zimbabwe elections
Thus there have been strong apprehensions that the West-backed NGOs may be looking for opportunities to trigger chaos and violence, which, in turn, will help the West to discredit the country’s elections. It is well-known that the US has continued with cruel sanctions against Zimbabwe.
It may want to see elections marred by violence to discredit the legitimacy of the elections and thereby use it as an excuse to maintain its sanctions against the country. On the other hand, the British might be concerned about Zimbabwe’s possible return to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth member states have taken a firm position that Zimbabwe must come back into it. Hence, the UK might be planning to use the excuse of a discredited election to block Zimbabwe’s re-entry.
Read More: Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa’s ‘in-house’ cleaning corners west backed NGO’s
Previously, we informed our readers about the Zimbabwean President’s recent launch of an “in-house cleaning” mission against the West-backed NGOs. These NGOs, disguised as promoters of democracy and good governance, actually operate as regime change agents and work to destabilize the country according to the West’s agenda. However, it had created a huge hue and cry among the NGOs, who claimed it was an attack on “freedom”. They made desperate calls to Zimbabwe’s President to reject the Senate’s bill, which grants the government greater control over the operation of the NGOs.
Considering all of this, it would be nothing short of an achievement for Zimbabwe to have peaceful elections and a credible outcome. Unfortunately, there are evil forces who will do their best to influence the election and install a puppet regime that could turn the country into a US vassal state. Thankfully, Zimbabwe’s President has taken a step in the right direction by controlling such NGOs. However, it is, now crucial to keep an eye out for any such attempts to create chaos and violence so that they can be nipped in the bud. Moving forward, Zimbabwe must remain extremely cautious and do what is right for the country.
