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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Talks, dialogue, negotiations and GNU - Post June 2008 "elections" - Index of articles
"SADC
should quickly intervene to save Zimbabwe"- human rights /
churches
The Zimbabwean
October 07, 2008
View article
on the Zimbabwean website
As prospects
of a new and democratic Zimbabwe are fizzling out, human rights
groups and churches are appealing to the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) region, particularly South Africa and Botswana
to be more linient with millions of hapless Zimbabweans escaping
poverty and persecution.
Several churches in Gauteng, including human rights groups have
expressed grave concern over the rift that is manifesting in Zimbabwe
as a result of cabinet post allocation.
The Zimbabwe
Exiles Forum (ZEF) Executive Director, Gabriel Shumba, told
CAJ News on Tuesday that the power-sharing deal
signed on September 15, 2008 would not succeed accusing Zanu (PF)
of trying to grab all the powerful cabinet posts.
"In spite of the fact that a deal has been signed, abuses continue
to occur with impunity in Zimbabwe. It may be a full year or more
before the situation resembles anything like better from where it
is.
"For the time being, we will continue to engage with South
Africa and other host countries to adopt a lenient approach to those
from Zimbabwe, who are seeking refuge status, as well as to assist
in providing humanitarian assistance," said Shumba.
He said the Zimbabwe problems would inevitably come to an end adding
that the situation itself was so horrendously bleak and wrong that
it could only improve for the better.
"However, it will take the committment and good faith of all
Zimbabweans, and not only select parties, to resolve it.
We believe that if the deal does not succeed, Zimbabwe may have
no second chance of extricating itself from its man-made quagmire.
"ZEF notes that there are many aspects of the deal that are
not satisfactory, and in particular laments the fact that the issue
of justice against perpetrators of crimes against humanity and reparations
for victims have been deliberately left out. It therefore hopes
that these and other shortfalls in the deal will be addressed for
permanent peace to prevail in Zimbabwe," said Shumba.
Joshhua Mambo-Rusere of the Zimbabwe Political Victims Association
(ZIPOVA) also called upon the SADC regional member states to support
millions of Zimbabweans currently taking refuge in those countries.
"I would like to appeal to the SADC governments to co-operate
to the plight of Zimbabweabs currently roaming around the entire
world as a result of political stalemate, persecution, poverty as
well as poor economic performance," said Rusere.
Methodist Central Church Minister, Bishop Paul Verryn, urged the
SADC region, including donors and the corporate world to look at
the Zimbabwean crisis with a positive mind so that they assist the
needy.
Over 3 500 000 Zimbabweans are believed to be living in South Africa,
over 200 000 in Botswana, 150 000 in Mozambique and several thousands
in Zambia.
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