Submitted by Franck Kamunga on 24 January, 2009 - 01:29
Issued on 23 January 2009: The
Africa Democracy Forum (ADF), a network of over 450 democracy and human
rights organizations throughout Africa, expresses its deep concern
about the political deadlock, the escalation of political violence
against democracy and human rights activists, and the deteriorating
economic, health, and humanitarian crises in Zimbabwe.
We
are disturbed by lack of progress in implementing the Global Political
Agreement, which was signed by ZANU-PF and two factions of the Movement
for Democratic Change in September 2008. The Agreement was to end all
forms of political violence, restore rule of law, safe-guard the
freedom of the media, allow access to humanitarian aid for those in
need, work towards the writing of a people driven democratic
constitution and to establish an inclusive government.
ADF
can call upon the incumbent regime to protect Zimbabwean citizens
against any form of political violence and acknowledge its duty to
protect its citizens. We continue receiving from our colleagues and
friends in Zimbabwe numerous reports on ongoing politically-motivated
and organized violence against and intimidation of citizens and
democracy and human rights activists. According to a report from
Amnesty International, at least 27 people have been abducted by the
police since October 2008 and remain in custody. Among them is Ms.
Jestina Mukoko, a prominent human rights activist. After being
detained without charges for over a month, Ms. Mukoko, together with
more than a dozen activists, is now being accused of plotting to oust
President Robert Mugabe through unconstitutional means.
In
addition to human rights activists, a number of independent journalists
and media organizations have been harassed, arrested, and even
abducted. People in the rural areas are being brutalized. In some
areas, food aid is being denied to those perceived as supporters of the
MDC. These issues should be addressed with or without an inclusive
government being formed.
Earlier
this week, President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai failed yet again to form an inclusive government as outlined
in the Agreement. Further, Zimbabwe’s Parliament did not take up the
proposed constitutional amendment which would, among other issues,
create the position of Prime Minister that would be taken up by Mr.
Tsvangirai while Mr. Mugabe remains as President. The constitutional
amendment is the first and crucial step in the process of implementing
the Agreement. The Parliament’s failure to move forward on the
constitutional amendment only heightens our anxiety about the potential
for resolving the political crisis. The failure to commit to the
Agreement and the lack of even an attempt to mount an effective
response to the growing economic, health, and humanitarian crises has
caused the needless deaths of countless Zimbabwean citizens.
As
African leaders prepare to meet next week at an Extraordinary Summit of
the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the third on this
issue since the March 2008 elections in Zimbabwe, and the African Union
(AU) Summit, the ADF urges those leaders to take decisive action to
ensure the full implementation of the Agreement and the protection of
civil society members, particularly those working to defend human
rights and restore democratic institutions. The ADF demands the
immediate release of Ms. Mukoko and other democracy and human rights
defenders, who have been in custody. The ADF also calls for African
regional institutions, such as SADC and the AU, to act in the spirit of
non-indifference to protect the lives of Zimbabwean citizens.
23 January 2009
Hannah Forster
Chairperson
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