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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Talks, dialogue, negotiations and GNU - Post June 2008 "elections" - Index of articles
Petition
to Presidents Ian Khama and Mbeki, MDC and ZANU PF mediation teams
Botswana
Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ)
August 01, 2008
We seek to acknowledge the current mediation process facilitated
by the SADC appointed Mediator, His Excellency President Thabo Mbeki
of the Republic of South Africa. We also note the signing of the
Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) of 21 July 2008.
However we recognize
that Zimbabwe continues to experience massive economic decline marked
by hyperinflation, food security, unemployment, collapsed education
and health services and an existing humanitarian catastrophe.
We, a coalition
of social groups, BOCISCOZ believe that the people of Zimbabwe remain
committed to peaceful resolution to the Zimbabwean crisis. We therefore
call upon the mediation team, MDC and ZANU PF, to ensure that the
concerns and will of the people of Zimbabwe form the basis of the
current talks.
Priorities should
be humanitarian relief, such as affordable access to food, resuscitation
of the economy, an end to violence and human rights abuses, provision
of fuel and revival of the health and education sectors. We believe
that the mediation process should place as its central concern,
the lives of the ordinary Zimbabwean people. During the process
violence, intimidation of citizens, and violations of human rights
have continued.
We therefore
call the President Thabo Mbeki and the mediation teams to:
- Note that
the Zimbabwean Civil Society has been excluded from the ongoing
talks. Without the voices of the people, articulated through civil
society, there is real risk that issues faced by the ordinary
Zimbabweans in their daily struggles will not form the basis for
talks. These include the real effects of the ongoing humanitarian
crisis and the economic meltdown. We therefore call for the inclusion
of the civil society, which has crucial role to play in the rebuilding
and healing of Zimbabwe.
- Recognize
the proven weakness of the concept of 'Government of National
Unity' as historically experienced in Africa. It tends to be adopted
as a 'quick fix' but unsustainable solution to the cessation of
hostilies. It has set a dangerous precedent for development of
democracy to our continent. We join with other civil society organizations
in Zimbabwe and in the region, to advocate for the need of a transitional
authority with a fixed time frame and a clear mandate.
The transitional
authority should include input from civil society in Zimbabwe and
should create an enabling environment;
- The completion
of the electoral processes for the holding of free and fair elections
in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe and the SADC electoral
standards.
- National
healing to post-election violence
- A new people
- driven Constitution and democratic institutions
- The lifting
of the ban
on the non-governmental organizations(NGOs) engaged in humanitarian
work and
- De-politicisation
of the armed forces and the judiciary
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