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Statement
of appreciation
Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum
April 24, 2008
The Zimbabwe
Solidarity Forum (ZSF) salutes an historic victory of Solidarity
for the people of Zimbabwe displayed by the International Trade
Union movements, civil society organisations and in particular the
South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) and its
maritime members, the Cease Fire Campaign and the Church especially
Bishop Rubin Phillips (ZSF Chairperson) for refusing to entertain
the An Yue Jiang vessels packed with lethal arms intended to buttress
the Harare government's unleashed reign of terror on the innocent
people of Zimbabwe.
Furthermore, the ZSF acknowledges the role that the world has played
by heckening to SATAWU's calls issued on its 21 April 2008 statement,
the COSATU's urge to African leaders to deny entry of the Chinese
vessels (African Path 21 April 2008) and many others similar calls
that were released by civil society organisations.
As the vessels heads back to China, it is still our duty that we
monitor its movements and try by all means to avoid its deadly cargo
to be transferred to a plane destined for the Harare International
Airport. This type of international solidarity that has been given
to the people of Zimbabwe is just but the beginning of the type
of solidarity they need as matter of emergence.
On another note, the ZSF would like to extend its appreciation to
the COSATU, part of the South African ruling tripartite of the ANC,
the SACP, YCL and many other civil society organisations for adopting
a new stance altogether against the President Robert Mugabe's government
and openly challenging the principle of quiet diplomacy with regards
to Zimbabwe crisis.
The SZF condemns the ongoing atrocities that are being perpetrated
by Zanu PF supporters on the ordinary people of Zimbabwe, in attempt
to suppress them from expressing their will and the ZEC continuing
silence on Presidential Elections. In line with this, the ZSF calls
on:
- The Zimbabwe
Security Forces to desist from taking the law into their hands,
but rather take action against all acts of violence being perpetrated
by Zanu PF supporters towards the people of Zimbabwe and to stop
Zanu PF political motivated mass arrests of innocent people.
- SADC and
AU, this is not the time to stand and shout from margins but rather
create platforms for civil society to walk the talk that is currently
going around with regards to Zimbabwe crisis. Also consider an
immediate independent technical expertise to second the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission (ZEC).
- Civil society
organizations to challenge the neo-colonial imperialistic conspiracy
epitomized by Zanu PF's campaign slogan "sovereignty, land
and empowerment" at the expense of those in which sovereignty
resides (the ordinary Zimbabwean people who are suffering as result
of a series of Zanu PF ill conceived policies and practices.
- Civil society
organizations to pledge full support and call for a post nationalistic
discourse centre around good governance, respect of human rights,
human security and democracy that finds expression in the broad
notions of people's will and political choice and societal renewal
for the people of Zimbabwe.
Amandla!
For more information contact: Sipho Theys 082 5000 81, Richard Smith
082 3915 964, Philani Ndebele 076 9423 565
*ZSF is a network of progressive South African civil society
organizations which include youth, students, women, labor, faith
base and human rights institutions engaged in solidarity programmes
that promote sustainable peace, democracy and respect of human rights
in Zimbabwe.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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