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CSO's
joint statement on the criminalisation of CSO's and their
work in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean Civil Society Organisations
January 18, 2013
We, the Zimbabwean
Civil Society Organizations, listed below, (CSOs) condemn the unashamed
intimidatory and repressive tactics being employed by the state
against civil society organizations and leaders in Zimbabwe, which
we have taken note of over a lengthy period.
We contend that
the unashamed attacks by the state on Civil Society are indicative
of a closing of democratic and electoral space, and based on current
form, all and any organization involved in election related issues
would be criminalized and attacked.
As CSO, we have
documented a well-calculated and intensified long running assault
on our freedoms and activities including those of human rights defenders
(HRD's), Human Rights Lawyers and Arts and Media practitioners,
by both State and other non state actors through slandering, intimidations,
raids, arrests, prosecutions and persecution.
We take such
harassment, which recently culminated in the arrest,
prosecution and detention of Zimbabwe
Human Rights Association (ZimRights) Director Okay Machisa,
who is also the Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition chairperson, as meant to scare and silence
organisations that have been advancing genuine people's development.
This development follows the earlier incarceration
of another ZimRights employee, Leo Chamahwinya, on trumped up charges
of forgery, fraud and spreading falsehoods. Similar charges and
actions have been taken against other organizations like the YIDEZ,
and the Elections
Resource Centre (ERC).
The primary
goal of launching this onslaught is simply meant to criminalize
the work of civil society, discredit it and showcase civil society
as unpatriotic and devoid of national interest. This discourse,
which has been peddled by some elements in the state and other political
parties seems to have gathered momentum and has now been turned
into action by deliberately and subtly intimidating and harassing
CSO activists and the Human Rights Lawyers who defend them, based
on trumped up charges or for simply doing their job. This relentless
assault on CSO's and accusing them of several misdemeanors
is to suggest to the public the existence of a wide-ranging conspiracy
targeting the stability of the country and to paint civil society
organisations as a danger to State security. As Civil Society we
unequivocally reject all the insinuations and willful misrepresentations
of our legitimate work.
The orchestration
of serious allegations against CSO's is meant to distract
the attention of the public and international community from the
important issues which the country is faced with which hinge on
the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement, and the
holding of free and fair elections through facilitating critical
reforms meant to incubate the respect of the will of the people.
We are certain
that the Zimbabwean authorities particularly, the police and Prosecuting
authorities, are well aware of the role of civil society, but often
times willfully mislead public opinion about our legitimate activities,
as they do the bidding of political masters. In this respect, we
note with regret and consternation, the resolution from the ZANU
PF December 2012 Conference, where the party resolved to deregister
so called "errant NGO's operating outside their mandate".
We are well aware that this was double speak and a euphemism for
organisations like ZimRights and others of its ilk working on Human
Rights, Governance and Election issues.
The vaunted
targeting of NGO's and their officials go wholly against the
spirit expected of a Government of National Unity that should be
making moves towards reform after years of being an island of repression
in a sea of democracy in the SADC region. Over the years, we have
noted that CSO's suddenly become endangered species once there
is an indication of a political contest particularly an election.
While we will not be surprised if they succumb to the temptation,
we urge the Government of Zimbabwe to desist from this disastrous
and unwarranted trend, and recant violence and intimidation as tools
for engagement in national affairs, especially as the country moves
toward a constitutional referendum and a general election in 2013.
We therefore
declare the following:
1. That political
leaders in the inclusive government act immediately to cease the
undue harassment of CSO's throughout the country.
2. That the
Government of Zimbabwe must urgently take measures to ensure the
protection of CSO's and HRDs and not impede their legitimate
activities which promote and advance implementation and fulfillment
of human rights obligations by the state and non-state actors.
3. That the
police and prosecuting authorities should exercise professionalism
and carry out their duties in a non-partisan manner and desist from
the intimidation of NGO workers through unnecessary and unwarranted
visits and searches.
We contend that
these attempts to criminalise NGOs, and discredit their work are
wholly associated with impending elections and thus call upon SADC,
in line with their earlier summit resolutions (if any inclined to
this subject broadly) and the AU to
1. Urge the
Government of Zimbabwe to allow CSO's in Zimbabwe to operate
without being criminalised, intimidated and harassed, as key prerequisites
to the holding of elections, which can pass the credibility test.
2. Implore the
Government of Zimbabwe to respect the notion of separation of power
between the executive and the judiciary by allowing courts to do
their work without any undue influence.
We will from
now on;
1. Call upon
our brothers and sisters in the region and the international community
to continue supporting the people of Zimbabwe in our quest for justice,
freedom and democratisation.
2. Urge our
solidarity partners to picket at the Zimbabwean Embassies and their
local Foreign Affairs Ministries on the issues raised above.
3. Demand a
meeting with the Leaders of Political parties (Principals) in government
to raise our issues.
Present our
issues to SADC and the AU as well as the facilitation team on the
attacks on CSOs because this is related to Elections.
Endorsed By
:
1) Achieve
Your Goal Trust (AYGT)
2) Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), UK
3) Afrika Kontakt, Denmark
4) Africa Hungarian Union, Hungary
5) Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT)
6) Build a Better Youth Zimbabwe (BABY)
7) Bulawayo Agenda
8) Bulawayo
Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
9) CCFD, France
10) Centre for
Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
11) Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG)
12) CGIL, Italy
13) Christian Action Trust (CAT-ZIM)
14) Christian Alliance
15) Combined
Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
16) Counselling
Services Unit (CSU)
17) Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC)
18) Ecumenical Support Services (ESS)
19) Ecumenical Service on Southern Africa (KASA), Germany
20) Election Resource
Centre (ERC)
21) Entraide & Fraternite, Belgium
22) Gays and Lesbians
Association in Zimbabwe (GALZ)
23) Heal Zimbabwe
Trust
24) Institute for Democratic Alternatives in Zimbabwe (IDAZIM)
25) Institute for Young Women's Development (IYWD)
26) International Revolutionary League (IRL)
27) Media Institute
in Southern Africa (MISA)
28) Media Monitoring
Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
29) Modus Operandi, France
30) National Association
of the Handicapped (NASCOH)
31) National Association
of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO)
32) National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA)
33) National Youth
Development Trust (NYDT)
34) Nhimbe Trust
35) Platform for
Youth Development (PYD)
36) Progressive
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
37) Radio Dialogue
38) Restoration
of Human Rights (ROHR)
39) Savannah Trust
40) Solidarity
Peace Trust
41) Students Christian
Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ)
42) Transparency
International Zimbabwe (TIZ)
43) Uhuru Network
44) VERITAS
45) Womens Coalition
of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)
46) Womens Institute for Leadership Development (WILD)
47) Women of Zimbabwe
Arise (WOZA)
48) Youth Agenda
Trust (YAT)
49) Youth Agrarian
Society
50) Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ)
51) Zimbabwe Civic
Education Trust (ZIMCET)
52) Zimbabwe Congress
of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
53) Zimbabwe Association
of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
54) Zimbabwe Coalition
of Debt Development (ZIMCODD)
55) Zimbabwe Election
Support Network
56) Zimbabwe Farmers Union Development Trust (ZFUDT)
57) Zimbabwe Human
Rights Association
58) Zimbabwe Human
Rights NGO Forum
59) Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights (ZLHR)
60) Zimbabwe National
Students Union (ZINASU)
61) Zimbabwe Organization for the Youth in Politics (ZOYP)
62) Zimbabwe Peace
Project (ZPP)
63) Zimbabwe Poets
for Human Rights (ZIMPHR)
64) Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF)
65) Zimbabwe United Residents Association (ZURA)
66) Zimbabwe Youth Movement (ZYM)
67) Zimbabwe Young Women for Peace Building
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