By Never Kadungure
Defence Minister and Zanu PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa has claimed Zimbabweans in the Diaspora will not be allowed to vote until targeted sanctions imposed by the West on Mugabe’s regime have been removed.
“They (MDC formations) want those in the Diaspora to vote simply because they are able to go out there and address them. We have been barred from visiting those countries and how do they expect us to do the same.
“Sanctions must go first and if they don’t, I don’t think those in the Diaspora can also vote until they return home. For the ground to be level, we are saying the illegal sanctions must go,” Mnangagwa said.
Analysts say the Zanu PF strategy is to use the ‘sanctions excuse’ as a way of blocking any form of reforms that will make them lose elections. The party has refused to honour the power sharing deal that saved them when they lost elections in March 2008. Again targeted sanctions were used as an excuse.
