Are We Drifting Towards One Party State

By Lloyd Takawira

The year 2020 has been more problematic in the history of Zimbabwe with widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the regime of President Emmarson Mnangagwa and his rulling , ZANU-PF party .

Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and plethora of international governments have voiced their concerns against the government of Zimbabwe which has become increasingly authoritarian under the cover of lockdown measures .

Rule By Statutes

The rule by statutes has seen violation on freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly and the protection of the law being constricted and trembled upon by the government.

For the past six months , there has been an onslaught on the media with journalists being wantonly beaten, arrested and detained on flimsy charges .The opposition, civil society activists, and human rights defenders have also been under siege .

Exstingishing Opposition

There is no doubt that , the government is moving towards disemboweling the opposition .

The visible government hand in the ongoing factional infighting pitting the various Movement for Democratic Change formations is clear testimony that , the government want a free race . A race in which the alternative voice is desembered

Banning By-Elections

Under sortorial scrutiny , the purported banning of all by-elections by Vice President Constantine Chiwenga who doubles as the Minister of Health (Chiwenga) through a Statutory Instrument is a clear testimony that the regime in Harare is working towards a clear path to a defacto "one party state".

Dear reader , there is no doubt that the banning of by-elections with the rulling Zanu PF party itself clearly on the ground contacting its restructuring exercise as well as contacting its primary elections in areas to which by-elections are due is a clear testimony to show that we are fast approaching a one party state.

The government celebrations on the recall of opposition members of parliament vindicates those who argues that , those who are involved in the chopping of members of parliament enjoys messianic blessings from the rulling Zanu PF party under the guise of constitutionalism.

The legality of the minister of health banning by-elections is questionable . One legal expert wrote that , the move by Vice President Constantine Chiwenga violates the Constitution of Zimbabwe

The Unpatriotic act.

The government in its bid to cover up rights abuses said it was going to consider the principal framework of a proposed law (patriotic act) that will criminalise and impose stiff penalties for campaigning against the country through private correspondence with foreign governments and harming national interests

However , it should be argued that the determination of ones patriotism is questionable . The actions of the involving itself in corruption , externalization of millions of dollars by the rulling elites is a complete disservice to the nation .

It can be argued that the rulling Zanu PF party has always been on an unpatriotic campaign to which they are accusing others .

Dear reader , the patriotic act will amongst other draconian statutes will pile more to the draconian laws that are already on the cards which are meant to constrict opposition and declaring the country a de facto one party state.

It should be postulated that the rule by statutes has been a culculated ploy to increasingly initiate an automatic autocratic regime under the guise of mantaining law and order.

Dear reader , my take succinctly posits that , the patriotic act and constitutional amendment no2 and the banning of by-elections and among many other statutes are all leading to a defacto one party state .

There is no doubt that , our government fear alternative voices. Its penchants in having an achaic one party state project which is delectably underway will in itself be a de-campaigning route in the face of the international community.

Lloyd Takawira is a Freelance Writer , Blogger, Research Consultant. Can be contacted on +263771923115 /

tllyoyd@gmail.com