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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Statement
on the civil society meeting with SADC representatives
National
Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in Zimbabwe (NANGO)
April 22, 2008
On 22 April 2008 representatives of Civil Society met with the Head
of the SADC election observer mission, Honorable Angolan Minister
of Youth and Sport Mr. Jose Marcos Barrica, and the Director of
the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Tanki Mothaey.
SADC convened
the meeting to share information about the current Zimbabwean Post
29 March Election Day situation. About twenty representatives from
various Civil Society Organizations were in attendance at the meeting
and were given opportunity to make representations to the SADC representatives.
The meeting was opened by a keynote presentation by the Honourable
Minister; this presentation was a commentary on the SADC position
on key developments in the Zimbabwean electoral process and other
attendant issues. Notably the Minister provided clarity on the mandate
and composition of the Observer Mission that returned to observe
the recount process. Civil Society representatives broadly commented
on the post election situation and raised concerns from various
viewpoints about the deteriorating human rights, security, humanitarian
and political conditions in Zimbabwe. The Civil Society delegation
roundly called for a greater SADC intervention to address the manifold
challenges in post-election Zimbabwe.
Further information
about the meeting's deliberations are contained in the report.
The Civil Society
representatives made the following recommendations for the possible
consideration of SADC:
- Recommended
that the SADC election observer mission should monitor closely
the environment since in the case of a possible run-off the current
environment was pre-election environment.
- Recommended
that the SADC election observer mission should focus on how Civil
Society could impact and interact with the electoral process keeping
in mind that the Post 29 March Election Day violence is characterized
by a deliberate policy of retributive intimidation.
- Recommended
that the SADC would have to address the critical situation of
political activists arrested under the repressive POSA
and the continued use of repressive legislation and the security
machinery to repress opponents of ZANU PF.
- Recommended
that the SADC should help in establishing security mechanisms
and safeguards against massive human rights abuse and internal
displacement which mostly affect children.
- Recommended
that the SADC has to step up its efforts to help address the critical
security situation in Zimbabwe including the threats by Service
Chiefs threatening a possible unconstitutional take-over of the
government.
- Recommended
that the SADC should help to disarm and disband so called War
Veterans and Youth Militia.
- Recommended
that the SADC should assist in the provision of humanitarian assistance
for the internally displaced and victims of political violence
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