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Democratic peaceful resistance the way to end tyranny
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
November 19, 2006

AT a consultative meeting held in Mashonaland West this week, representatives drawn from various pro-democracy groups, including grassroots-based organisations have resolved that the only way to end poverty, tyranny and the gross human rights abuses in Zimbabwe is through civil disobedience. Representatives from Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) and representatives from youths and faith-based organisations noted that a new democratic and people-driven constitution is the panacea to the governance crisis deeply rooted in Zimbabwe.

The following resolutions were made:

• That there is need to increase and sustain pressure on government on the urgent need for a new, people-driven and democratic constitution.

• Call for thorough investigations into corruption within the public sector and the prosecution of those that are found guilty of corruption despite their political standing.

• That the proposal to set up a Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission should be resisted until such time that government shows commitment to deal with existing and unresolved cases of human rights abuses. The government has the primary responsibility to protect human rights of the citizens and it is either an act of omission or commission on its part that constitutes a violation. In Zimbabwe human rights abuses such as evictions, torture of political activists, disappearances and denial of food, water, housing, education and health occur at the instigation of the State. Before the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is established the government must agree to operate within the rule of law framework and facilitate a process that will make it impossible to violate human rights with impunity as is the current situation.

• That the church must take a leading role in advocating for good governance and involve everyone in the national question rather than pandering to the Executive. The meeting also noted that the initiative by EFZ, ZCBC and ZCC which culminated in The National Vision- Zimbabwe We Want document presented to President Mugabe by the church should have been much more consultative and broader.

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition fact sheet

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