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Save Zimbabwe Coalition resolve to engage in civil disobedience over Mugabe term extension
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
January 11, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news110107/savzim110107.htm

The general council of the Save Zimbabwe Coalition on Thursday resolved to engage in a civil disobedience campaign against plans by Zanu-PF to extend Mugabe's presidential term.

The coalition groups together leaders from the opposition parties, civic society, student movement and church groups. According to Pedzisai Ruhanya the programmes manager for the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition who are also participants, 'several forms of protest within the limits of a democracy,' are being planned in 2007. He was unwilling to provide Newsreel with the actual details saying this would compromise the programme.

The coalition, a brainchild of the Christian Alliance, is demanding elections in 2008 under a new democratic constitution. Last week Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa issued threats to the grouping, warning that any planned demonstrations will be illegal under the country's laws. In December Mugabe used his State of the Nation Address to warn opposition forces that, 'While the country respects and affords everyone the right of assembly and association, the use of such platforms as tools to advance the British-inspired regime change agenda cannot be tolerated.'

Ruhanya however told Newsreel that Zimbabweans were united in the suffering and repression they faced from Zanu-PF and would make their views known as stakeholders.

Morgan Tsvangirai, representing his MDC party, and Romaldo Mavedzenge standing in for the Arthur Mutambara MDC were in attendance. Arthur Mutambara offered his apologies after attending veteran politician Edgar Tekere's book launch. Welshman Ncube his Secretary General is said to have attended a funeral. Also present were Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibhebhe.

National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairperson Lovemore Madhuku and leaders from the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Bulawayo Agenda and Bulawayo Dialogue were among the others who attended.

The coalition is reported to have at least over 23 member groups.

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