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Solidarity
actions on Zimbabwe in commemoration of Africa day
Botswana
Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ)
May 25, 2008
We, the Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe
(BOCISCOZ) join with other civil society organizations in the region
in commemorating Africa Day on 25 May 2008. May 25 is recognised
annually as Africa Day in remembrance of the founding of the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. The OAU is now replaced by the African
Union. On 21 April 2008, civil society organizations from Africa,
including representatives from BOCISCOZ, met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
to discuss strategies for restoring democracy and good governance
in Zimbabwe. A communiqué was issued and a plan of action
was agreed by these organizations. The meeting also agreed that
concerned organizations would show international solidarity for
the people of Zimbabwe by commemorating Africa Day 2008 as a "Stand
up (For) Zimbabwe" Day.
SADC countries,
including Botswana, continue to be negatively affected by the ongoing
situation in Zimbabwe. In Botswana, we witness an increasing influx
of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers from Zimbabwe, reported
food shortages in towns close to the borders and other difficult
situations as a result of what is happening in Zimbabwe. These concerns
are a symptom of the ongoing political and governance crisis in
Zimbabwe. BOCISCOZ is commemorating Africa Day 2008 with the following
activities:
- Participation
on The Morning Grind, phone in programme, on Gabz Fm on 20 May
2008
- A press
briefing at the boardroom of The Media Institute of Southern Africa
(MISA) Botswana Chapter on 21 May 2008
- A call for
all churches to focus their services and prayers on the crisis
in Zimbabwe on 25 May
- A round
table discussion on the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe and the implications
for Botswana at Boipuso Hall on 26 May 2008 from 7:30 to 10:30
a.m.
- A public
rally at the Gaborone Secondary School grounds on 26 May 2008
from 11:00 a.m. This will culminate in a public march.
BOCISCOZ will
host other solidarity actions in other areas of Botswana including
Francistown. We urge all Batswana to continue to exercise restraint
when faced by the consequences of the crisis in Zimbabwe. They can
show their dissatisfaction with the existing situation in Zimbabwe
by joining with us in showing solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe
in the planned events.
We are encouraged
by the role played by the Government of Botswana in ensuring that
the situation in Zimbabwe is given its deserved attention. We therefore,
call upon the Government of Botswana to continue engaging with SADC
member states to attain a peaceful solution to the current crisis
in Zimbabwe.
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