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In
the face of repression
The
Financial Mail (SA)
September 24, 2004
http://free.financialmail.co.za/04/0924/focus/ffocus.htm
On a recent
visit to SA, Welshman Ncube, secretary-general of the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), member of parliament in Zimbabwe and advocate
of that country's high court, spoke to Thandeka Gqubule.
Tell me about
the MDC's decision to boycott the coming elections.
No,
we need to clarify that we are not on boycott. We prefer to say
that we have decided to suspend participation in the pending elections
until there is compliance with the SADC (Southern African Development
Community) protocol on how elections ought to be conducted. Zimbabwe
is currently in violation of every aspect of the protocol. So, we
are calling on Zimbabwe to comply. Zimbabwe is signatory to the
protocol and so we are simply asking that they comply with the obligation
that has been assumed.
Institutionalised
violence continues, repressive pieces of legislation designed to
further close political space are proceeding, access to public media
by all is grossly skewed, basic democratic freedoms and rights continue
to be violated. In fact, the general restoration of political freedom
is not on the table for discussion as we approach this election.
Regarding our
suspension of participation, we have received a ground-swell of
support. We have been to all the provinces across the country and
the suspension has been enthusiastically received. I have just spoken
in my own constituency in Bulawayo East and the reception of the
position we are taking has been very good indeed. After all, we
already have a few disputed elections under the belt; why would
we go for more?
Have you
canvassed your position on the suspension of participation in this
election beyond Zimbabwe?
Yes,
we are in a round of meetings with all the heads of state in the
SADC region. All the leaders in the region are basically in agreement
on what is wrong, yet what seems unresolved is what action should
be taken. There is still a reliance on persuasion and quiet diplomacy.
Such diplomacy normally takes place behind closed doors, so I am
uncertain what is going on behind those doors. What I can confirm
is that we are not experiencing the results of quiet diplomacy.
It also remains clear that Zanu-PF does not desire dialogue.
You had a
meeting with President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday evening. How did
that go?
All the meetings
with heads of the SADC have been frank, constructive and open. Our
meeting with President Mbeki was in this spirit.
How would
you describe the political and social climate in Zimbabwe at the
moment?
The
environment is worse than at any time in our history as a country.
The situation is characterised by violence in various parts of the
country, like Mutasa. We have also seen Zanu-upon-Zanu violence
in some regions. The introduction of legislation to shut down and
silence nongovernmental organisations is proceeding. This will be
one of the most insidious pieces of legislation to date. It aims
to further close political space by preventing the existence of
social and other organs of civil society from publicly raising human
rights issues and governance concerns. Further, the legislation
will be a crackdown on churches - they will not be able to embark
on social-extension ministries and will be confined to preaching
about heaven only.
What of the
future?
Well,
if there is no intervention we will see the deepening of poverty
and the political isolation of Zimbabwe. We will see increased shortages
in a number of basic and essential products. We will also experience
a general economic meltdown. This is why we should ensure adequate
international pressure on Mugabe and his regime and organise internal
pressure to achieve concessions to ensure we live in a more democratic
environment.
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