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Open
letter to Max Sisulu, Speaker of Parliament, South Africa
The Save
Zimbabwe Now Campaign
May 06, 2009
Dear Sir
The opening
of Parliament has become a symbol of the commitment of democrats
everywhere to consolidating and strengthening the democratisation
project of the SADC region and our continent that began in earnest
with the fall of apartheid and the election of our first President
Nelson Mandela in 1994. We are writing to you on this auspicious
occasion to draw to your attention matters of grave concern taking
place on our borders with our sister country Zimbabwe.
You may be aware
that on the 5th of May the Zimbabwean state ordered the re-detention
of seventeen previously released Zimbabwean civil society and opposition
activists, including Jestina Mukoko, Concilia Chinanzvavana, Chris
Dhlamini and Ghandi Mudzingwa. The Save Zimbabwe Now Campaign and
the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa join Zimbabwean civics
and Solidarity Movements across the world, in expressing our shock
and anger at these latest developments.
The issue of
political detainees is an emotive one especially within our own
experience of the struggle for freedom. That it is now being used
as a tool for political oppression by our neighbours is another
indicator of the repressive nature of the state and its blatant
disregard for the human rights and dignity of ordinary Zimbabweans.
This act of
intimidation and harassment represents a massive blow to any hopes
of a peaceful transition in Zimbabwe.
The safety of
these detainees is of grave concern particularly given their public
exposure of the torture, humiliation and violent assault they faced
when they were first abducted. It must be recognised that they are
in danger and that these actions place their lives under serious
threat.
On the 4th of
May the South African government promised Zimbabwean nationals a
90-day visitor's permit and the lifting of visa restrictions
on crossing the South African border. We have concerns about it's
distribution and some of the details of the arrangement, but this
recent decision seems to be a positive development. However if Zimbabwe
continues to violate human rights in such a manner, South Africa
is only dealing with the symptoms of the problems created by mass
migration. The Zimbabwean government must face consequences; action
must be taken by South Africa against the Mugabe Regime. The new
parliament of South Africa can no longer be seen to be standing
by ZANU PF.
It has become
clear that none of the mechanisms put in place by SADC and the Government
of National Unity can protect the citizens of Zimbabwe from the
Military Generals and their belief in the right of might. The detention
of these activists amount to nothing more than another round of
extra-legal abductions and they should be viewed as political detainees.
That such actions can take place in the face-of global attention
being paid to the current developments in Zimbabwe indicates the
arrogance of the political and military elites. That they take place
at a time when the GNU, including the MDC, is arguing for reinvestment
and confidence building around the transition process exposes them
as spoilers' intent on destroying all efforts aimed at peaceful
change.
The rule of
law in Zimbabwe has become a mockery of justice where court rulings
can be changed from one day to the next or simply ignored by the
ruthless security apparatus. The bully-boys of ZANU PF appear willing
to stop at nothing in their efforts to retain the control of the
state that enables their ongoing looting and pillaging of the countries
resources.
These actions
come in the wake of increasing concerns over the failure to implement
critical aspects of the Global
Political Agreement. They represent a further slap in the face
for SADC and the African Union, and are contemptuous of the role
South Africa has played in their efforts to obtain a mediated outcome
to the stolen electoral process by soothing the concerns of military
stakeholders.
As guarantors
of the agreement SADC and the AU are compelled to speak out forcefully
on these detentions. They are in direct violation of agreements
reached between the principle stakeholders within the mediation
process and are further evidence of the total disregard in which
the Zimbabwean people are being held.
We further call
on SADC, the AU, regional governments and the International Diplomatic
Community to physically visit the sites where the detainees are
being held and verify that they are alive and being held under humane
conditions, check their physical and mental condition, and make
every effort to ensure their swift release.
A protest will
be held outside of Parliament today at 1pm during the opening of
Parliament. This protest will make the point that Zimbabwean nationals
entering South Africa are not exclusively economic migrants, but
are also refugees who are unable to return to their home country
for fear of doing so. We implore the South African Parliament to
use all of its influence to ensure the speedy and safe release of
the political detainees and to urge SADC to use every means at its
disposal in ensuring that the following basic requirements of a
democratic transition are met:
- Stop abductions,
torture and all forms of repressive violence and release all political
prisoners immediately
- Allow Humanitarian
agencies responding to the deepening Cholera and HIV/AIDS epidemic
and the food shortages to work in an unrestricted environment.
- Scrap unjust
legislation that restricts the right to organise and tell the
world what is going on including the Access
to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and
the Public
Order and Security Act (POSA).
- Create the
conditions for the adoption of a people-driven constitution and
a legitimate free and fair election "We demand the immediate
release of all Zimbabwean activists."
Signed on behalf
of the Save Zimbabwe Now Campaign
Sipho Theys
Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum
Letter endorsed
by:
Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum
Save Zimbabwe Now Campaign
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition CRISIS
PASSOP
Southern African Liaison Office SALO
Coalition for Peace in Africa COPA
Action for Conflict Transformation ACTION
Southern African Litigation Centre SALC
Africa Governance, Monitoring and Advocacy Project Afrimap
Southern African Resource Watch SARW
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa OSISA
Organisations
wiling to endorse this letter are requested to send their names
to sipho@actionsupport.co.za
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