Churches in Zimbabwe are this week working hard at the centre of communities to make sure that voters turn out at the weekend for the election, according to UK relief agency, Tearfund. Many people are fearful of voting following frequent reports of often violent intimidation, but some 900 churches are standing together to build voter confidence through a national support network.
The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) has launched a multi-lingual voter campaign. As well as monitoring the ballot across church areas the campaign is aimed at informing, motivating and mobilising the Christian community – which constitutes 75 per cent of the Zimbabwean population - to participate and go out and vote.
Useni Sibanda, National Coordinator of the ZCA - a partner organisation of Tearfund, says the organisation has a unique approach to voter awareness which is currently being taken forward by a plethora of civil society organisations. ‘The uniqueness of this programme is not that it is from a religious background but that it cuts across the language divide and is available to all Zimbabweans in their mother tongue,' said Revd Sibanda.
For the first time in Zimbabwe the electorate in minority areas are able to receive voter election awareness materials in their own languages. The ZCA has translated its motivational appeals into Shona, Ndebele, Tonga and Venda. This programme has proved to be popular and its messages have been well received throughout the Christian community. The voter materials include full information on the electoral process: how to vote; individual rights; explanation on what to expect; the nature of secret balloting and assessing past record.
‘We are empowering the people, the congregations and communities to vote without fear,’ says Useni. ‘All we have tirelessly campaigned for is for free and fair elections. The action we are taking is in respect for the principles of democracy. This isn’t about who gets elected, or who the government is – it’s about the very democratic right to be that government, to be fairly elected with legitimacy and integrity. The people must be informed, they need to understand their rights and they must vote. Churches are standing up for them and standing with them.’
Zimbabwe’s Christian population makes up a huge network within the country that reaches into the remote rural areas. The Christian Alliance is monitoring voting at some 900 ballot locations across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces. With church volunteers involved across each of the church areas, the ZCA hopes that feedback provided will clearly document whether the election has been fair.
Incidents and dirty tricks are familiar in Zimbabwe’s recent electoral history. A culture of rumour and intimidation over voting has lead to threats against individuals and families. Chiefs have been ‘bought’ by regime officials to sway the vote in villages. Common-land rights have been threatened and politicised food hand outs are widespread.
On top of this there has been obstruction of voter registration. A lack of clear government information on electoral boundaries that have been recently changed has resulted in the confusion around the nomination of candidates.
‘It comes as no surprise that this weekend’s elections are likely to be neither free nor fair,’ says Peter Grant, Tearfund’s International Director. ‘Mugabe has demonstrated time and time again, often ruthlessly, that he doesn’t respect democracy. And equally it doesn’t surprise us that it’s the churches stepping up to ensure a voice for the oppressed and the marginalised. Tearfund honours their conviction and courage and that’s why we stand with them in support.’
Tearfund, working through churches and partner agencies, is continuing to feed some 35,000 people - orphans and vulnerable families - as food, water and nearly all bare essentials have become all but unavailable to the vast majority. Tearfund is providing financial support for the ZCA electoral education campaign.