ZANU PF FEARS THE DIASPORA VOTE BECAUSE IT CAN’T BE RIGGED

The Zimbabwean government knows one thing for sure—the Diaspora vote is dangerous for them. Not because it is illegal, not because it is difficult to set up, but because it is almost impossible to steal. This is why ZANU PF avoids it at all costs. They know that if Zimbabweans abroad could vote, their control over elections would be in serious trouble.

For decades, Zimbabwean elections have been marred by rigging, intimidation, and manipulation. The ruling party has mastered the art of controlling the vote within Zimbabwe. They use fear, violence, and vote-buying to get the results they want. They know where opposition strongholds are, and they flood those areas with police and soldiers. They make rural voters afraid to vote freely. They use food aid to force people to vote for them. They stuff ballot boxes. They manipulate voter rolls. They control the entire election process from start to finish.

But the Diaspora vote? That is a different story. It is an election they cannot control.

1. NO INTIMIDATION

Zimbabweans abroad live in countries where elections are free and fair. They are not afraid of ZANU PF’s threats. They do not fear being beaten for voting the “wrong” way. They do not worry that their landlord or village head will report them. They will walk freely to the polling station, cast their vote, and leave without looking over their shoulder. This is a nightmare for a party that survives on fear.

2. NO VOTE BUYING

In Zimbabwe, ZANU PF hands out bags of maize, cooking oil, and sugar before elections. In rural areas, they tell villagers, “If you don’t vote for us, you will starve.” The Diaspora does not need maize from ZANU PF. They do not need cheap promises of jobs that never come. They have seen how real governments work in the countries they live in. They understand service delivery. They know what accountability looks like. They cannot be fooled by fake campaigns.

3. NO RIGGING

Inside Zimbabwe, ZANU PF controls everything—the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), the police, the courts, and even the media. They print extra ballots. They count votes in secret. They announce results at their own time. But in the Diaspora, they do not have this power. If Zimbabweans abroad were allowed to vote, the process would be managed in embassies and international voting stations where election observers could watch everything. The votes would be counted transparently. There would be no ballot stuffing, no disappearing voting papers, no ghost voters.

4. HIGH OPPOSITION SUPPORT

Many Zimbabweans in the Diaspora left the country because of ZANU PF’s failures. They ran away from economic collapse, joblessness, and repression. They have seen how other governments run their countries. They know that Zimbabwe is suffering because of bad leadership. It is no secret that a large percentage of Zimbabweans abroad would vote for change. This is something ZANU PF does not want.

5. THE NUMBERS CAN DECIDE AN ELECTION

It is estimated that more than 5 million Zimbabweans live outside the country. That is almost half the number of registered voters inside Zimbabwe. If they were allowed to vote, they could swing an election. They could remove a government that has held onto power through fear and force. This is why ZANU PF will fight to make sure the Diaspora vote never happens.

WHY THE EXCUSES?

The ruling party makes weak excuses about why Zimbabweans abroad cannot vote. They say it is too expensive. But the money is there when they want to buy new cars for ministers or hold lavish rallies. They say the law does not allow it. But laws can be changed. They say it is logistically difficult. Yet South Africans vote abroad without any problems.

The truth is simple—ZANU PF knows they cannot win a free and fair election. And the Diaspora vote is the one election they cannot steal.

Zimbabweans in the Diaspora must not give up. They must keep demanding their right to vote. They must use their voice to expose this injustice. They must pressure regional and international bodies to push for electoral reforms.

A free Zimbabwe is possible. But it starts with a free vote. And a free vote includes every Zimbabwean, no matter where they live.