CIVIL society organisations have urged parties to the coalition government to negotiate a pact with the country’s security services which addresses their “fears and interests” to ensure they do not interfere with the next elections.
Security service chiefs were said to have been responsible for the delay in publication of 2008 general election outcome and the violence which marred the run-off ballot between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Analysts say the service chiefs are worried that a change of government could result in prosecution for alleged corruption and human rights abuses.
Civil society organisations said a deal that addresses the army and security chief’s concerns could help avoid a repeat of the violence experienced in 2008.
The organisations met in the eastern resort of Vumba to discuss the country’s electoral environment ahead of the constitutional referendum and general elections expected to be held next year.
“Parties in the inclusive government (should) look at the interests and fears of the security chiefs and open negotiations with them with a view of making sure that they do not interfere with the electoral process,” recommendations from the meeting read.
President Mugabe has insisted the constitutional referendum must be held early next year leading to general elections in June.
However civil society insists conditions in the country do “not provide a conducive environment for the holding of democratic elections”.
“The political environment remains highly volatile, uncertain, and tense. The polarized environment-does not favor holding of elections as violence would most likely erupt,” the organisations said.
They added that the coalition government had failed to repeal repressive legislation such as the Public Order Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Broadcasting Services Act which were “inimical to the holding of free and fair elections”.
In addition “institutions and infrastructure that support violence such as the Youth militia, war veterans and a partisan security force remain unreformed and therefore a threat to democratic elections”.
The organisations said there need for an overhaul of the country’s voter register and the reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to ensure it becomes “a truly independent electoral body that is accountable”.
They called on the regional SADC body – which facilitated formation of the coalition government – to insist on “a non violent, free and fair election that respects the will of the people of Zimbabwe”.