In Zimbabwe today, democracy is under attack. The recent attempt to disqualify presidential hopeful Saviour Kasukuwere and the double candidate scandal involving the opposition CCC have exposed how deep the rot has gone. At the heart of it all is a clear pattern: ZANU PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) are working hand in glove to block opposition and rig the democratic process in favour of the ruling elite.
Kasukuwere’s attempted disqualification sent a strong signal to all opposition voices — if you pose a threat to ZANU PF, you will be removed by any means necessary. The excuse used to try and block him from contesting was technical. But many Zimbabweans see it for what it really is: a dirty political move. It is a clear example of how the regime manipulates institutions to control who can and cannot run. And when institutions like ZEC are involved, the whole election process loses credibility.
While that saga was unfolding, another scandal broke. ZANU PF was caught registering several CCC candidates under false names in a strategy known as “double candidates.” This tactic was used to confuse voters and divide the opposition vote. Shockingly, ZEC allowed this to happen and only acted after public outrage. This kind of behaviour is not just dishonest — it is undemocratic. It exposes a system designed not to serve the people but to protect those in power.
These events are not random. They are part of a broader plan to kill democracy in Zimbabwe. Opposition parties are being blocked, harassed, arrested, and smeared. Voters are being misled. Institutions that are supposed to protect democracy, like ZEC, have become tools of repression. The will of the people is being replaced with the will of the powerful.
A true democracy is built on fairness, equal participation, and honest competition. But in Zimbabwe, the playing field is not just uneven — it is tilted completely in ZANU PF’s favour. The disqualification of Kasukuwere and the double candidate scam are proof that ZANU PF fears free and fair elections. They know that when Zimbabweans are given a real choice, they vote for change.
It is time for Zimbabweans to demand better. The people deserve an election where every candidate can stand, every vote counts, and every institution serves the nation — not a political party. The opposition must be allowed to campaign freely. Voters must have access to the real list of candidates. And ZEC must be independent, not captured by those it is supposed to regulate.
The international community must not look away. The African Union, SADC, and the United Nations must pay attention to what is happening in Zimbabwe. These are not small technical errors. They are signs of a broken system that needs urgent reform. The people of Zimbabwe need their support now more than ever.
Saviour Kasukuwere’s case and the CCC double candidate plot must become rallying points. They must not be forgotten or swept under the rug. They are symptoms of a much bigger disease — the slow death of democracy in Zimbabwe. But it is not too late to turn things around.
Zimbabweans must speak up, stand up, and refuse to let their future be stolen. This country belongs to the people — not to ZANU PF. The time for silence is over. The fight for real democracy is now.