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The
Open Forum 2005 on Zimbabwe, South Africa and the region
Britian Zimbabwe Society (BZS)
June
04, 2005
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Executive
Summary
This
Report describes the proceedings of an event aimed at facilitating
open, inclusive debate amongst the Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK
and others concerned about the continuing crisis in Zimbabwe, its
regional and international implications, the role of civil society
in the struggle for democratic governance, human rights, justice
and peace, and the possible strategies for change.
The Open Forum
2005 on Zimbabwe, South Africa and the Region was organised in London
on 4 June 2005 by the Britain Zimbabwe Society in association with
a number of associated organisations. It was conceived as an inclusive,
non-partisan, nongovernmental forum and focused on two specific
themes:
- the institutional
instruments available to civil society to use in defending human
rights and promoting change;
- how to develop
a genuinely anti-imperialist framework for understanding the situation
in Zimbabwe, in the face of the anti-imperialist posture adopted
by the ruling party in Zimbabwe to win international and particularly
African support for its policies.
The Forum was
attended by some 270 persons. Stimulated by strong presentations
from all the speakers on two panels, and by the dramatic events
unfolding in Zimbabwe (the ‘drive out the rubbish’ government blitz
- officially called ’restore order’ - on urban settlements and informal
sector traders had reached its third week) participants conducted
a lively debate with sharp disagreements on some points. The constructive
discussion ranged more widely than the two principal themes, and
reflected a clear consensus that the crisis in Zimbabwe had entered
a new phase, requiring long- as well as short-term responses, and
careful re-assessment of the direction of events in Southern Africa.
This report
is compiled from the detailed notes of a team of three rapporteurs.
It summarises the main presentations, and the ensuing discussion.
At the end will be found the following appendices : (I) Biographical
notes on the speakers. (II) Messages received by the Forum. (III)
Organisational details of the Forum, including contact details of
the organisations associated with it, funding, membership of the
planning group, and the reporting team.
Contents
- Concept
- Aims of the
Open Forum 2005
- Themes
- Programme
- On the day
- Panel One
- Discussion
on Panel One
- Panel Two
- Discussion
on Panel Two
- Appendix
I - Biographical notes on speakers
- Appendix
II - Messages received by the Open Forum
- Appendix
III - Organisation of the Open Forum
Concept
The Open Forum 2005 was conceived as an inclusive, non-partisan,
non-governmental forum to examine, analyse and debate the crisis
in Zimbabwe, and its relationship with South Africa and the wider
African region. It aimed to focus in particular on two themes :
(1) the role
of civil society in Africa in defending human rights, and the institutional
instruments available to it to use in promoting change; (2) to consider
how the ruling party in Zimbabwe has adopted an anti-imperialist
posture to secure some international support for its domestic policies,
and how to develop a genuinely anti-imperialist framework for understanding
the situation in Zimbabwe.
The Open Forum
2005 was organised by the Britain Zimbabwe Society in association
with the Zimbabwe Association, the International Liaison Office
of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, the REDRESS Trust, the Canon
Collins Educational Trust for Southern Africa (CCETSA), together
with Article 19, ACTSA (Action for Southern Africa), End the Silence,
the Centre of African Studies, London University, and the Royal
Africa Society (RAS). The Forum was a follow-up to a well-attended
event which the Britain Zimbabwe Society organised in London on
28th February 2004 in association with a number of other organisations
(ref: Report on the Open Forum on Zimbabwe and South Africa, 28th
February 2004, BZS).
Aims of the
Open Forum 2005
1. To bring
together the Zimbabwean and South African diasporas in the UK, with
participants from other African countries and the British constituency
of interest in
Southern Africa
2. To inform
and educate about current developments in the region appertaining
to Zimbabwe's relations with South Africa and other African countries
and the response
of civil society to the Zimbabwean crisis
3. To stimulate
and support an open, inclusive and constructive debate on the promotion
of democratic governance, human rights, justice and peace in Zimbabwe
4. To support
the ongoing advocacy efforts by civil society organisations in Zimbabwe,
South Africa and the region in defence of these goals in Zimbabwe
5. To promote
and facilitate networking and relationship building between individuals
and civil society organisations in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the
region, and with the wider international constituency of support
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