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The African Union (AU) must take decisive action on Zimbabwe
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
August 22, 2005

The African Union (AU) and the entire international community must quickly intervene to find a lasting solution to the governance and legitimacy question in Zimbabwe as the economic and political situation continues to deteriorate. The international community must take decisive action against President Mugabe who is the stumbling block to talks between the two political protagonists, Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change.

The AU must not heed calls from Zanu PF that the Zimbabwean issue must only be solved by SADC because this renders the continental body toothless. Equally the same, President Mugabe must be censured for his efforts in trying to set SADC against the AU. The AU is made up of regional groupings (biocs) including SADC and African leaders must resist attempts by President Mugabe to preach empty Pan-Africanism when he oppresses the people of his country.

The AU Chairman, President Olusegun Obasanjo has the authority to appoint mediators in order to broker talks between warring parties or factions and as such Crisis Coalition sees nothing wrong with the appointment of Joachim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique. The situation in Zimbabwe presents both SADC and the AU with a golden opportunity to force President Mugabe to reform. Dialogue, not only between Zanu PF and MDC, but also including the civil society (faith-based institutions, business, women, youths/students organisations and workers) is the only way that can mark an end to the current crisis.

The Zimbabwean crisis epitomized by rampant corruption in government, gross human rights violations, an unemployment rate of over 80%, critical fuel shortages and food scarcity can only be resolved if President Mugabe demonstrates willingness to save his countrymen and the country from total collapse.

The AU must within the confines of the African Peer Review Mechanism prevail over President Mugabe’s government in order to force him to abandon Hitlerian tactics such as the muzzling of the independent media, peddling of propaganda, enactment of repressive laws and gross violation of human rights.

Chissano’s appointment and his acceptance to broker talks between Zanu PF and MDC is welcome news to the majority of Zimbabweans who are reeling under an unbearable economic and political situation. During his reign as president of Mozambique, Chissano distinguished himself as a true statesman who is committed to democracy, human rights and development within the Pan-African framework. It is on the basis of Chissano’s unquestioned diplomatic credentials that President Robert Mugabe must drop the politics of setting SADC against the AU on the Zimbabwean crisis and agree to engage in dialogue. Chissano’s appointment as Zimbabwean mediator is a giant step that goes a long way in fulfilling the African Union’s Constitutive Act.

As confirmed by the United Nations Special Envoy on Human Settlements Issues, Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka the economic and political situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate and has been further worsened by unpopular and military-style endeavours that have left a serious humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of women and children have no access to food, clean water, health care and sanitation and yet on the other hand, the HIV and AIDS pandemic take its toll whilst government continues to fiddle.

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition fact sheet

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