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Defiance against democratic deficit
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 21, 2007

The Marondera Public Meeting

On 19 June 2007, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CCZ) held a provincial meeting in Marondera, Mashonaland East province at which the people vowed to continue with the defiance campaign against a democratic deficit in the country. The meeting was held under the theme, "Perspectives on the 2008 Council, Parliamentary and Presidential elections," and more than 600 people attended the meeting.

Resolutions made:

• No to participation in the 2008 elections if the electoral playing field is not yet levelled
• There must be no compromise on issues of constitutional reforms
• The Save Zimbabwe Campaign must keep the momentum of civil disobedience high as we approach the elections
• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Public Order and Security Act (POSA), Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), Interception of Communications Act among other restrictive laws must be unconditionally be repealed.
• No to smoke screen institutions such as the formation of the Human Rights Commission, Media and Information Commission (MIC), Zimbabwe Election Commission which are aimed at sprucing up the image of the government.

SADC/Mbeki mediation on Zimbabwe crisis

In conjunction with its partners, the Crisis Coalition held a public meeting under the theme SADC/ Mbeki mediation in Zimbabwe: Is there enough political will?" in Harare yesterday. The meeting was attended by members of the public, civic leaders , students politicians, diplomats and human rights defenders among others.

Zimbabweans urged the Save Zimbabwe Campaign to step up pressure on the government despite the assaults, intimidation, and arbitrary arrest of human rights activists by state agents

The following resolutions were made at the public meeting:

• To demand a stake in the ongoing talks between ZANU PF and MDC being mediated by the South African president, Thabo Mbeki. These talks should encompass the interest of all Zimbabweans.
• There is need to step up pressure on the incumbent government to end the prevalent culture of impunity and violence against human rights activists and opposition political leaders. The government needs to create a conducive environment for the people of Zimbabwe to gather and discuss pertinent issues affecting them.
• The government should stop the rampant torture of detainees, harassment, intimidation by dispatching of infrastructures of violence such as the notorious Green Bombers and repealing nefarious laws like AIPPA and POSA.
• Step up the demand a people driven constitution whereby the freedoms and rights of the people are honored, before the elections in 2008.
• Need for unity of purpose and taking a coordinated approach towards resolving the national crises and step up voter education so that the electorate is empowered in the run up to 2008 elections.

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