Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
15 August 2023 | 10:05am SAST
1 min read

In this week’s edition of the Africa Report on Radio Islam International, Ruhanya Pedzisai, the Director of Zimbabwe’s Democracy Institute, provided insights into pressing political issues across Africa. The interview covered Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections, the military coup in Niger, and the arrest of an opposition leader in Zambia.

Pedzisai, a prominent figure with a PhD in Media and Democracy from Westminster University and a prolific author, shed light on the challenges surrounding Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections on August 23rd. He highlighted the critical issues that threaten the legitimacy of the process. Of particular concern is the absence of an updated voters’ roll and the unavailability of polling stations, issues that could undermine the election’s fairness. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s handling of these matters has raised questions about democratic practices, with the opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CC), experiencing difficulties accessing necessary information. The implications of these challenges could cast doubt on the credibility of the election’s outcome.

Switching focus to Niger, Pedzisai discussed the ongoing military coup and its regional implications. He revealed that the coup leaders are attempting to charge the ousted president with high treason, despite the coup itself being a breach of constitutional order. The coup leaders’ behaviour echoes a recurring pattern in the Sahel region and parts of Western Africa, with coups becoming distressingly common. Pedzisai called on organisations like the African Union and the United Nations to condemn such behaviour and protect democratic processes in the region. He emphasised the importance of regional bodies, like ECOWAS, to stand firm against unconstitutional power shifts.

“So, the ECOWAS… must stand firm and refuse to accept the unconstitutional change of power and demand that the president of Niger be released unconditionally,” Pedzisai said.

The interview then addressed Zambia’s political climate, focusing on the arrest of opposition leader Fred Membe. Pedzisai expressed concern about President Hakainde Hichilema’s evolving approach to democracy. While elected on a promise of democratic practices, the president’s actions have demonstrated an authoritarian tendency, including the arrest of political opponents. Pedzisai called for respect of civil liberties and the encouragement of open critique and engagement in political discourse.

Listen to The Africa Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaiman Ravat here.