Fraud, Failure and Farce in Zimbabwe

​"They promised them freedom while they themselves are slaves of depravity." 2 Peter 2:19

How to Steal an Election and Ruin a Country
Zimbabweans are outraged over how Marxist dictator, Robert Mugabe has once again defrauded them with an electoral ambush. The Sunday Times claims that ZANU-PF President Robert Mugabe used US$850 million of blood diamond money to rig the country's latest elections.

Manipulating the Electoral Process
A shadowy Israeli company, Nikuv, was employed by ZANU-PF, since 2009, to advise them on how to manipulate the voters roll and ensure a ZANU-PF victory in the 2013 elections. Nikuv's website claims that the company has "extensive experience in the field of population registration and electoral systems." It claims to specialise in "population registration, birth and death registration, marriage/divorce registration, identity documents, immigration and citizenship, passports and electoral systems."
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The CIO Connection
A senior cabinet minister in Zimbabwe claimed that Nikuv has actually been operating in Zimbabwe for more than 10 years, based at the National Registration Bureau in Borrowdale, Harare, next to Army headquarters. Nikuv has worked directly with the Registrar General, Tobaiwai Mudede. Eddie Cross, a Zimbabwean MDC Member of Parliament, has reported that his sources inform him that Nikuv in Zimbabwe is working under the direction of Daniel Tonde Nhepera, the Deputy Head of Zimbabwe's dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

Nikuv
On its website, Nikuv claims that its company "focuses on projects for governmental sectors and has worked throughout Africa since 1994, in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Botswana and Angola in IT and additional areas like agriculture and security." Nikuv was the focus of much controversy in Zambia where it was brought in to manage and computerise voter registration. After a Zambian High Court case, the Nikuv roll was scrapped. Nikuv's offices in Lesotho were raided after it was awarded the identity document contract in controversial circumstances. The MDC in Zimbabwe claim that Nikuv enabled the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to obtain riot control equipment and police motorbikes, which international sanctions prevented them from obtaining through normal channels.

Security Services
The International Security Consultancy (ISC), which is linked to Nikuv, claims on its website to "provide a full range of security services, ranging from advice to aviation security, debugging and counter surveillance." It lists as satisfied clients: The Central Bank of Nigeria, The Turkmenistan presidential palace, Russia's Menatepe Bank, Ecuador's National Petroleum Company and the Banco De Costa Rica.

Irregularities
Eddie Cross, MP for Bulawayo South, reported that the voters roll had "been carefully manipulated by experts… it contains at least one million dead voters, over 350,000 who are over 85 years old and 109,000 over 100 years old, one of which is 135 years old. We found 838,000 duplicate names - same name, same address, same date of birth, different ID numbers. …we found 500,000 people had been moved out of their residential areas to other electoral districts … changed without their consent." 

Rent a Vote
In addition, Eddie Cross reported that ZANU-PF "moved hundreds-of-thousands of people into strategic areas in preparation for the poll ...over a million people were settled on farms taken away from their owners… they were told where to vote and that the party would be able to tell how they voted. Eviction was the threat." 

Intimidation
"In the commercial farming districts ZANU-PF simply told the 500,000 so called "settlers", that any sign of a vote for the MDC would immediately invite retribution and eviction. The structures of the MDC were smashed and their leadership beaten or killed. In the tribal areas, they told all chiefs (who were also promised rich rewards) that no voting for the MDC would be tolerated. Headmen - the backbone of rural Africa, were instructed to marshal their people, record names and ID numbers and then arrange for them to vote at a specified polling station. They were told what would happen to them and their families, homes, and livestock if they voted MDC. Three quarters of all seats in the House of Assembly are from these rural areas. This alone guaranteed them victory on the day." About one million urban voters were disenfranchised – approximately 40% of those in MDC strongholds were sent away from voting stations, on the day, as their names could not be found on the roll! 

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34 

Blood Diamonds Bribery
"Then, just to make sure that the battlefield was to their liking, they sold stocks of diamonds (I hear for over US$1 billion), used the money to buy lots of things to bribe the locals… they funded a lavish campaign. They maintained tight control of all media, commanded the security forces and police, a tight control of the Registrar General's office, the Electoral Commission and their minions, as well as all polling stations." 

"For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity." Isaiah 61:8 

Accessories to Oppression
Eddie Cross, MP, warns the regional leaders of SADC and the AU, that "they allowed the ZANU-PF to mount what we have called an electoral ambush," just as Mbeki did in 2008. The African Union must "take responsibility for this mess and sort out a solution." He emphasized that it is essential that the people of Zimbabwe be allowed "to make their own choices, without coercion, or threats, or inducement as to who they want to lead them back to the path of stability and progress." 

Anarchy
"If they do not, Zimbabwe will again slide back into anarchy and the collateral damage to the region will be massive." 

"Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts… Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream!" Amos 5:15,24

International Condemnation
The Botswanan government has called for an independent audit, stating that the elections failed to meet minimum standards. The Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, called for re-elections in Zimbabwe as such large numbers of voters had been disenfranchised, raising doubts about the credibility of the election results. The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, described the voting process as: "deeply flawed" because of "irregularities in the voters roll, unequal access to the parties for state media, a lack of political reforms as mandated by the constitution, among other issues… But make no mistake: in light of substantial electoral irregularities reported by domestic and regional observers, the United States does not believe that the results announced today represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwe people." 

Carter's Legacy
Of course, neither were the violence and intimidation-ridden elections of 1980, yet the US State Department under president Jimmy Carter rewarded Mugabe's terrorist group, ZANU-PF, with extravagant foreign aid for having bludgeoned the people of Zimbabwe into voting for his Marxist revolutionaries.

A Pattern of Oppression and Deception
From this first exercise in hijacking an election, Mugabe learned that it apparently did not seem to matter how many people were intimidated, beaten and murdered, as long as the ballots were stuffed full of votes for his party at the end of the day. So, ever since 1980, that is how Mugabe has operated: bludgeoning, intimidating, harassing, threatening, terrorising and murdering the people into voting for his mob of Marxist mass murderers.

"Who will rise up for Me against the wicked? Who will make a stand for Me against the workers of iniquity? Psalm 94:16

Political Theft
Morgan Tsvangirai, and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), clearly won the 2002 and 2008 presidential elections in Zimbabwe, yet they have continued to be called the opposition while the loser, Robert Mugabe and his Marxist ZANU-PF, continue to be called "the government!" Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected the latest 31 July 2013 elections as "fraudulent", calling for fresh elections to redress this "political theft." "The people of Zimbabwe must be given another chance to participate in a free, fair and credible election. They have been short-changed by a pre-determined election." 

From One Extreme to the Other
With typical British understatement, British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, stated: "We have grave concerns over the conduct of the election," mentioned that "the reported irregularities called into question the credibility of the election." Yet, inexplicably, president Jacob Zuma of the ANC, extended his: "profound congratulations" to Robert Mugabe winning a seventh term, in what he termed, "a successful vote." 

Shamelessly Stolen
The Sokwanele Independent Electoral Monitoring group described the elections as: "Shamelessly stolen." Describing the trauma they experienced during the North Korean trained Fifth Brigade reign of terror and massacres throughout Matabeleland in the 1980s, Sokwanele declared that it was a "bizarre situation" that "we are in a manufactured political context where the vast majority of the people in our country are forced to accept control and authority from those they do not want." 

Inconceivable
"Surely any sane, reasonable person can see that it is illogical and inconceivable that a nation that has endured all that would voluntarily elect the party, a mere five years later, the same party that brought us all to our knees and made our lives a living hell? Or does everyone really think the Zimbabweans are that stupid!? 

Grotesque and Bizarre
"What is more incredible is the result that Robert Mugabe awarded himself: Five years ago the presidential results were delayed for weeks in the wake of a national revolt against his rule. We all knew why – the books were being cooked behind the scenes. The subsequent manufactured result of 31 March 2008, resulted in a presidential run off, the only chance Mugabe had of still clinging onto power. The grotesque violence that preceded the run off was a desperate attempt to literally bludgeon an already brutalised nation into allowing him to stay on. 

Absurd Farce
"It is simply absurd and farcical that that same nation would peacefully and legitimately award him a massive 61% victory, and his party a landslide two thirds majority in Parliament – enough, you note, to allow ZANU-PF to reverse all the legal gains that we voted for as a nation in 2008. ZANU-PF would like the world to believe that legal gains, including our brand new constitution, are things the people have suddenly decided they do not want! 

A Vote for Hell
"That we would all want a return to what was pure unadulterated hell. A landslide victory is simply not plausible. To endorse it as credible, or fair, would be an outrage against a whole population, and a total disregard for the meaning of democracy. Zimbabweans are not stupid. This election has been stolen. It is an abomination of democracy and a violation of everything sacrament to a people who believe in the right for people to determine their own futures… 

Despair and Prayer
"I was forced to kneel down and pray… a despairing sense of helplessness that I know the majority of Zimbabweans are feeling today. Our immediate future now seems to lie in the hands of carefully selected teams of election observers – ones that ZANU-PF trusts to turn a blind eye to their crimes against democracy and our people… 

Torment
Where does that leave Zimbabweans? It leaves us in torment. We need every international body there is to listen to us and hear our plea. How can any business set itself up to earn money by depriving an entire nation of a future? …I am most afraid that apathy and a lack of faith in the international community… will allow this farce of an election to fizzle into the accepted status quo, without so much as a whimper. Zimbabwe's future right now is almost too awful to contemplate…"

Serving the Suffering
Frontline Fellowship has been ministering in Zimbabwe since 1982. We have been conducting Evangelistic outreaches, literature Evangelism, personal Evangelism, film Evangelism, Leadership Training Courses, ministering to pastors, prisoners, pensioners and patients. Delivering Boxes with Love, agricultural tools and seed, and, most importantly, encouraging these people who have been so devastated by treachery and corruption.

National Suicide
They have faced the worst inflation in the history of mankind. Despite striking off sixteen zeros from their currency, a hundred trillion dollar bill could not even buy a loaf of bread! When the inflation rate reached two and a half million percent, with prices doubling every hour, they abandoned their own currency and now use South African Rand and American Dollars. Power Failures are normal, electricity and plumbing rare luxuries.

Transforming Lives to Build Foundations for the Future
Frontline Fellowship continues to conduct multiple Mission outreaches into Zimbabwe. For the safety of our workers and those whom we serve, we cannot say much about our ministry inside the country, but please do continue to pray for our field workers and the Evangelists, pastors and teachers whom we are serving and equipping.

Literature and Love in Action
Please also pray for the impact of the tonnes of Gospel literature which we are distributing throughout Zimbabwe and for our Boxes with Love project of providing food and medicines to destitute Zimbabwe pensioners.

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40

Hope for the Future
The only hope for Zimbabwe is sincere repentance, Biblical Reformation and spiritual Revival. We tend to get the governments we deserve. An immoral and dishonest, or cowardly, people get a wicked and corrupt government. Many in Zimbabwe supported Mugabe, even as he was massacring the Matabele and stealing farms from productive white commercial farmers. Only as the economy collapsed and their jobs and lively hoods suffered did the bulk of Zimbabweans turn against Mugabe. There needs to be an honest admission of the selfishness, greed, covetousness, and malice which is at the root of this disaster. Zimbabwe needs to repent before God and rebuild their nation on Biblical principles.

Mobilise Prayer and Action for Zimbabwe

Persistent prayer, publicity and pressure provides protection for the persecuted (Luke 18:1-7). Please circulate this prayer alert to friends and family and at your congregation. Pray for the Christians suffering in Zimbabwe. Mobilise your congregation and Bible study group to pray. Write to your elected representative to urge decisive political and economic pressure to be bought to bear against the ZANU-PF regime in Zimbabwe. Encourage your church to support missions of mercy to the suffering Christians in Zimbabwe. Phone, fax, e-mail, or write, to the nearest Zimbabwe Embassy to protest against their lawless policies of oppression.

"Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9

Dr. Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Fax: 021-685-5884
Email:  mission@frontline.org.za

See other articles on Zimbabwe:
Zimbabweans Outraged at Stolen Elections
Zimbabwe at the Crossroads
Does Africa Care?
Praying for Justice
Marxists Loot Zimbabwe Diamonds
Remember Rhodesia – Pray for Zimbabwe
Mugabe Tsunami in Zimbabwe
Evicted Farmers Continue to Feed Zimbabwe
Crimes Against Humanity
Violence Continues Against MDC
Chinese Colonialism in Zimbabwe
Chinese Arms in Africa
Reclaiming Zimbabwe for Christ
Zimbabwe and Zambia - A Tale of Two Countries and Three Religions
Zimbabwe - A Lesson in How to Destroy Christian Civilisation
How Should the Church Respond to Zimbabwe
The Failure of Democracy in Africa & Ian Smith
Ian Smith Was Right After All
Why Talks With ZANU-PF Have Failed to Resolve the Crisis in Zimbabwe