Makoni must now choose between the two candidates

CALLING off the blood and thunder Presidential run off in favour of the Government of National Unity (GNU) now appears to be very late in the day and probably against the mindset of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

It is now three weeks to go to June 27. While there are serious concerns about reports of political violence in Zimbabwe at the moment, and the expense involved in the run off, Zimbabweans know that violence is a double-edged sword and democracy is expensive. The friends of Zimbabwe could assist with the money to run the election if that is what we need.

It is difficult to expect the candidates who have already committed their resources to the campaign to simply go back home when they are convinced that they can win the elections and wait for uncertain dialogue. President Mugabe and his campaign team feel strongly that some of their members did not vote on March 29 and they would like to do so on June 27, President Morgan Tsvangirai and his campaign team feel that they have to finish the job they started on March 29.

Both candidates in the run-off seem to believe that they need to derive their mandate to rule Zimbabwe from the people of Zimbabwe, and each candidate’s team is using tactics and strategies that they believe will work for them. Simba Makoni, the losing presidential candidate may have a point about calling off the run-off. It appears, however, that the earlier he chooses the candidate to support the better for him and everyone else. The presidential run-off has been irrevocably agreed between the candidates and it is going ahead.

I am one of those who felt that it was best not have a run-off but once the date was set and campaigning started, it does not make sense to call off an election with only three weeks to go. In any case, we do not wish to set a record for calling off an election because of pre-election. How can we call ourselves a democracy thereafter.

This will set a very bad precedent in the world, The Kenyan example should be the last curse of Africa. Simba Makoni is best advised to work towards ensuring that the elections will be free and fair since he recognises the fact that the hope for a free and fair is now next to zero.

While it is accepted that the run-off will not solve the problems that Zimbabwe faces at the moment, an election and negotiations are not mutually exclusive. We will therefore have the election first on June 27 and negotiations later. In any case, some negotiations have already started but violence has not stopped. Reports from South Africa indicate that Ministers Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche of Zanu-PF met with Tendai Biti the MDC Secretary General in Pretoria last week. We know that previous negotiations between Zanu-PF and the MDC have taken too long and did not solve the Zimbabwean problems.

The presidential run-off is therefore meant to decide the leadership issue, not necessarily to solve all our problems. The negotiations will facilitate power transfer or distribution which ever is required.

To quote Admiral Lord Nelson on the eve of the battle of Trafalgar, October 20, 1805, “…now that we have decided why it cannot be done, let us determine how it will be done”.