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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Stop
the war against the people
Our
Country Too
May 11, 2008
32 MDC supporters
have so far been reported dead under the ruling party's terror
campaign.
On 29th March
2008, the people of Zimbabwe went to the polls to elect presidential,
senatorial, parliamentary and local government representatives.
The people of Zimbabwe made their choices, sending a clear message
to the ruling party that they are tired of the governance and legitimacy
crisis which has become an albatross on the country's neck.
The ruling party
has since embarked on a retributive offensive in the rural areas,
unleashing terror, through the manipulation of the militant war
veterans, the youth militia and the security forces. According to
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), 32 of its supporters have
been killed while thousands of supporters in the rural areas have
been displaced and houses blazed in acts of arson.
The Coalition
therefore call upon the United Nations (UN), Africa Union (AU) and
the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to send observer
missions in the violence ridden rural areas to stop Mugabe's
violent supporters from further destroying lives and homes. The
most affected areas are noted below:
Mashonaland
East
- Mudzi North
and South
- Mutoko Centre
- Murehwa
West
- Uzumba
- Maramba
- Pfungwe
- Chikomba
Mashonaland
Central
- Mazowe South
- Guruve
- Shamva
- Mt Darwin
Mashonaland
West
- Rafingora
- Hurungwe
- Karoi
- Mhangura
Midlands
North
Midlands
South
Masvingo
- Mwenezi
- Bikita West
and East
- Chiredzi
South
- Zaka East,
North, West and Central
Manicaland
- Buhera
- Macheke
- Headlands
- Rusape
- Makoni
- Chimanimani
- Chipinge
Matabeleland
We therefore
call upon regional and international observers to insist on gaining
access to the afore-stated constituencies before, during and after
presidential run-off. This will prevent any further loss of live;
destruction of property through acts of arson and displacements.
This is in line
with the resolutions and positions made by more than 3000 people
of Zimbabwe at the Rainbow Towers Grounds, Harare on 9 February
2008. The delegates discussed and made binding positions in respect
to the political environment which should prevail in the country,
as outlined in section 1 of the People's
Charter.
The
Zimbabwe Peoples Charter (Section 1)
Political
environment
In the knowledge that our political environment since colonialism
and after our national independence in 1980 has remained characterized
by:
- A lack of
respect for the rule of law;
- Political
violence, most notably that which occurred in the early to late
1980s in the provinces of Midlands and Matabeleland, and that
which occurred in the years from 1997 to present day, where lives
were lost as a result of government actions undertaken with impunity;
- A lack of
fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression
and information, association and assembly, all characterized by
the militarization of arms of the state and government.
The People shall
have political environment in which: -
- All people
in Zimbabwe, including children are guaranteed without discrimination
the rights of freedom of expression, and information, association,
and assembly, and all other fundamental rights and freedoms as
provided under international law to which the state has bound
itself voluntarily.
- All people
in Zimbabwe live in a society characterized by tolerance of divergent
views, cultures or religions honesty, integrity and common concern
for the welfare of all.
- All people
in Zimbabwe are guaranteed safety and security, and s lawful environment
free from human rights violations and impunity.
- All national
institutions including the judiciary, law enforcement agencies,
state security agencies, electoral, media and human rights commissions,
are independent and impartial and serve all the people of Zimbabwe
without fear or favor.
- There exist
a free and vibrant media, which places emphasis on freedom of
expression and information and a government, which guarantees
independent public media as well as a vibrant and independent
private media
- All people
in Zimbabwe live in a society, which is the embodiment of transparency,
with an efficient public service and a belief in a legitimate,
people-centred state.
And hereby further
declare that never again shall we let lives be lost, maimed, tortured
or traumatized by the dehumanizing experiences of political intolerance,
violence and lack of democratic government.
Adopted
by: -
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