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Police
refuse to sanction Zimbabwe Social Forum
Zimbabwe Social
Forum
October
12, 2004
Zimbabwean anti-globalisation
activists, social movements, NGOs, community based organisations,
faith-based groups and unions opposed to neo-liberalism and corporate-led
globalisation who were scheduled to hold the Second edition of the
Zimbabwe Social Forum from 14 October 2004 have been barred by the
Zimbabwe Republic Police from holding their meeting in the Harare
Gardens.
Instead of appreciating
the political significance of the event whose overall theme is a
" People’s Forum Against Poverty, Gender Inequality and oppression",
the Police have sought to portray the meeting as one that will cause
public disorder.
In a letter
signed by Chief superintended S. Pondo, Officer Commanding Harare
Central District, and addressed to the Zimbabwe Social Forum, it
is noted that "…The meeting is hereby not sanctioned by
this office. Harare Gardens is in the Central Business District
(CBD) and from information available, the public gathering will
occasion public disorder and may cause damage in the CBD."
The deliberate
misreading of the Social Forum and what it stands for reinforces
the observation that the government of Zimbabwe uses populist rhetoric
to articulate left wing demands, but has an array of draconian legislation
which it has progressively deployed against pro-democracy forces,
consequently causing some unprecedented shrinking of democratic
space and intolerance especially of those challenging the right
wing tendencies embedded in most of its economic programmes and
some of its erstwhile politicians whose interests the police force
are defending.
The global Social
Forum process has emerged as a direct countervailing force to the
elitist World Economic Forum.
The Zimbabwe
Social Forum was meant to prepare for the country’s participation
in the forthcoming Africa and World Social Forums scheduled to be
held in December 2004 (Zambia) and January 2005 (Brazil) respectively.
The Social Forum
has constantly articulated that the current globalisation process
and its local manifestations, are dominated by the giant trans-national
corporations from the North, and is impacting negatively on the
people in Zimbabwe.
Its activists
have rejected the neo-liberal paradigm and have singled out the
World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organisation
key instruments for imposing the agenda of the governments and corporations
of the North.
We therefore
call on the Zimbabwean government to facilitate that the event be
held in the country at a date to be announced by the organisers,
and most importantly at Harare Gardens, a venue they used last year
without any public disorder.
Advice offered
by Police that the event be organised away from the CBD is not justified.
This is meant
to take away visibility and political significance of African antiglobalisation
activists who have strengthened the resistance mounted by governments
from the developing world struggling against the unjust World Trade
Organisations and other similarly destructive global hegemonic forces.
Meanwhile, the
National Organising Committee of the Zimbabwe Social Forum has been
forced to postpone the event.
Further, the
Committee resolved to mount a legal challenge in order to have the
meeting in Harare Gardens.
Express your
solidarity with the activists in the country and proudly proclaim
that !!!Another Zimbabwe is Possible!!!
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