By Prince Kuripati
Outspoken South African opposition leader Julius Malema last Thursday addressed the media during his party’s 10th-anniversary celebrations. During the address, he called upon all Zimbabweans ‘loitering’ in the streets of South Africa to return home and vote in the upcoming elections.
Malema said that for many years, most Zimbabweans living outside the country have delegated the right to choose their country’s leaders. He said that should be a thing of the past, and starting with the upcoming Harmonised Election slated for 23 August, all Zimbabweans living in South Africa should return home and exercise their right to vote.
“The EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) wishes the people of Zimbabwe well in the upcoming national elections, which will happen on August 23, 2023. The elections mark a critical opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe to elect a government of their choice to uplift the nation of poverty that today defines what was once known as the breadbasket of Africa,” Malema said.
The EFF leader went on to state that voting is the main step to correcting what many Zimbabweans say is the cause of their country’s misfortunes. In his usual feisty tone, Malema urged Zimbabweans “to go home, vote, and stop blaming other people for their own misfortunes, for which they have solutions… No one is going to fight for these Zimbabweans who are loitering the streets here; they are their own liberators. For once, they must take responsibility and get into buses and go home and vote”.
Through his party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema said that he is ready to help all those who may have challenges going home using their own resources. He said that his party is more than ready to hire buses that will transport them from South Africa to Zimbabwe. “A government of their choice will restore peace and prosperity in that beautiful country. If they need to go back home, they must approach the EFF offices. We will be more than happy to rent buses for them to go home and vote”.
During the same address, Malema urged the ruling Zanu PF party to desist “from the urge to practise violence against its political opponents and from any form of intimidation on citizens to coerce their vote.” He has that there is a need to embrace a new political culture, one which is characterised by political tolerance. “Zimbabwe needs to enter an era of political tolerance that is not defined by the history of violence and suppression but the possibility of peace, prosperity and continental unity,” he said.
To those who heed his call, Malema promised that they are welcome to return once they exercise their right to vote. “We call on all Zimbabweans who are here in South Africa to go back home and vote; even if it means coming back, they can come back. They are more than welcome, but they must do the right thing and go and vote,” Malema said.
Many Zimbabweans who expressed their views on social media platforms agreed with Malema’s sentiments, saying it's time that Zimbabweans decide their destiny. However, most lamented the fact that a huge population of Zimbabweans living in South Africa didn’t return to register to vote; hence even if they came, without being registered voters, they won't cast votes.