500
By Takudzwa Changadeya
AN Independent survey has revealed that the majority of the Zimbabwean electorate would be happy to be governed by a coalition.
The survey was done in January for The Brenthurst Foundation by independent London-based research group SABI Strategy.
Using an in-depth 15-minute questionnaire, asked: “Would you be happy to see a coalition govern Zimbabwe?”, the survey shows a majority of respondents (51%) would be happy to see a coalition govern Zimbabwe.
Asked: “What is the most important national issue facing Zimbabwe as a whole right now that you would like someone to do something about?”, 54% of respondents believe Zimbabwe is moving in the wrong direction. The most important issues are corruption and jobs.
Coming to the issue of elections, the results also show that opposition leader Nelson Chamisa could defeat the incumbent president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in the forthcoming national elections, but many voters expressed concern on whether the election would be free and fair.
The survey reads: “If an election were to be held tomorrow. Nelson Chamisa would win 53% of the vote”.
It also depicted that Chamisa’s Citizens Coalition for Change party (CCC) could win the parliamentary election, out-performing Zanu-PF, which reigned for 43 years since independence in 1980.
In February 2009, following the contested 2008 Presidential elections a government of national unity was formed and saw Robert Mugabe as the President, MDC leader Morgan Tsvagirai inaugurated as Prime Minister and Thokozani Khupe and Authir Mutambara as Deputy Prime Ministers.
The coalition government rose after the 2008 general elections which were marred by violence and human rights violations. The official results of the Presidential elections were announced after a month leading to rigging claims by opposition parties.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced that Tsvangirai (MDC) had won the election with 47,9% against Robert Mugabe’s 43,2%. However Tsvangirai failed to garner the 51% required by law necessitating a run-off in June.
Tsvangirai withdrew from the runoff citing intimidation and violence on his supporters. He said 86 people had been killed and 10 000 seriously injured in the violence.
The unity government boosted the country’s economy and brought an end to hyper inflation following the adaptation of the U.S dollar and South African Rand.
