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A
response to Obasanjo's Letter to John Howard
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition
February 13, 2003
The Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition has carefully considered the letter drafted by Nigerian
President Olusegun Obasanjo to his Australian counterpart, Prime Minister
John Howard. In this letter, Obasanjo discusses a position on Zimbabwe’s
status in the Commonwealth which he alleges he has developed through extensive
discussions with South African President Thabo Mbeki.
The Coalition is dismayed
by the contents of the letter.
Zimbabwe was suspended
from the Commonwealth for breaching the democratic rights of its citizens,
and in particular for the violent nature of the electoral process. Evidence
to prove that the Presidential Election was neither free nor fair abounds.
Since this election,
human rights abuses, torture, arbitrary arrests, and assaults have been
on the increase. In the last two months, fifteen MDC Members of Parliament
and at least twenty-five civil society leaders have been arrested or detained
on nefarious charges. In addition, there are increasing numbers of reports
of youth militia attacking individuals perceived to be opponents of the
regime—be these perceptions founded or not. Shockingly, this fact has
been ignored by Obasanjo and Mbeki.
There is continued
violence and harassment of civil society leaders. In this regard, the
calculated confinement of the crisis to the land question constitutes
a deliberate attempt by Obasanjo to authenticate a repressive and illegitimate
regime. It indicates an insensitive interest in a diplomatic solution
at the expense of principle and human rights.
Moreover, Mbeki and
Obasanjo have ignored the pending election petition filed by the MDC contesting
the results of the March 2002 Presidential Election. The Commonwealth
is obliged to await the outcome of this petition. The position taken by
Obasanjo and Mbeki is premature and constitutes a pre-judgement of the
issues, contrary to the Commonwealth Club report on the Presidential Poll.
The position by Mbeki
and Obasanjo did not have the benefit of broad consultation with Zimbabweans
from across the political divide. In fact, it betrays an undue leaning
towards the propaganda of Zanu PF. In particular, Zimbabwean civics were
not consulted before this position was taken.
On this premise, the
Coalition is left with no option but to conclude that "quiet diplomacy"
has ended, and Nigeria and South Africa are now officially Zanu PF international
public relations managers. They have been soiled with intimate association
with the ruling party. Zimbabwe needs to look for a new solution, and
must identify arbiters who can act as honest brokers.
The Coalition therefore
calls upon Zimbabwean civil society, and regional and international actors
to support the following:
- An open and inclusive
policy towards grain importation, and the depoliticisation of food distribution;
- An end to political
violence, which should include the dismantling of militia bases and
the depoliticisation of the armed forces;
- Popular defiance
of unjust laws, and advocacy for their repeal;
- An immediate rerun
of the fraudulent Presidential election;
- Prioritisation
of foreign currency allocations to ensure the availability of essential
medicines and services;
- An urgent redress
of the excesses of the land distribution exercise, and in particular
the plight of farm workers.
The time has come
for courageous, bold and principled moves which demonstrate the commitment
of individual actors and civil society organisations to democracy, human
rights, and justice. Only this will ensure the effectiveness of our actions,
and guarantee our eventual success.
Brian Raftopoulos
Chairperson,
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Visit the Crisis in
Zimbabwe fact sheet
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