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Youth Committee statement
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
March 11, 2010

Background to 11 March

On the 11th of March 2007, state security agents attacked and brutalised opposition activists, human rights defenders and ordinary citizens who had attended a prayer meeting at Gwanzura stadium in Highfields Township. On this same fateful day state security agents murdered vibrant youth activist Gift Tandare in cold blood and went on to steal his lifeless body from a private funeral parlour three days later. On this same day his body was stolen, Robert Mugabe the Zanu PF first secretary urged state security agents to continue assaulting and torturing opposition activists and human rights defenders. It is now three years and the widow of Gift Tandare, his children, family and the people of Zimbabwe are still crying for justice. It is on this day again when ZANU PF youth militias and state security agents also brutally assaulted MDC President and now Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and other civic society leaders for attending this prayer meeting. To this day the Prime Minister is still recuperating from the injuries as he recently underwent surgery in South Africa for a broken nose and is also still awaiting justice. Painfully these state security agents who killed Gift Tandare and committed these injustices are walking scot-free; the torture chambers they operated in 2007 are still being used to silence the voices of many youth activists who have decided to speak on behalf of the voiceless martyr

The Youth Committee Position on 11 March 2010

Today, 11th March 2010, we the young people of Zimbabwe have decided to put an end to the trail of blood which the autocratic and repressive rule of the Zanu PF regime continues to unleash on the people of Zimbabwe. The Youth Committee unreservedly condemns the unwarranted and wanton violation of the rights of the Zimbabwean citizenry by the autocratic regime. In this regard the young people of Zimbabwe will be taking to the streets of Harare to openly register their displeasure with the state of human rights. We remind Robert Mugabe that the young people of Zimbabwe are still awaiting justice to be delivered over past and present injustices such as Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina, the stolen elections and the violence that has always rocked election environment including the June 2008 heartless massacres, torture, raping and maiming of innocent civilians and human rights defenders. We hold that the ZANU PF Youth League should also nullify their utterances and threats they sent to the Prime Minister. In fact their ultimatum should be sent to the ZANU PF politburo and their leader.

As we march on 11 March today we hold that

1. The continued human rights abuses, state organised violence and persecution of civic society leaders, political activists and human rights defenders must stop forthwith

2. Parliament should urgently adopt the shelved motion on the prosecution of all perpetrators of politically motivated violence. Youth militias who committed grave acts of political violence in June 2008 should be brought to book. This position is premised on the belief that the people of Zimbabwe cannot live in constant fear of murderers and rapists who continue to roam free in the streets of Zimbabwe. Justice must be instituted NOW

3. ZANU PF must immediately and forthwith abide faithfully and fully to the provisions of the Global Political Agreement as it is the only fabric that gives Robert Mugabe and his cronies a window to be in government. President Mugabe must be reminded that his presence in government was secured through the SADC and AU brokered agreement and not the people of Zimbabwe who have the non negotiable right to choose their leader of choice.

4. ZANU PF must immediately and unconditionally refrain from politicising and derailing the constitution making process. The constitution making process must get underway within the stipulated time frame of the Global Political Agreement. In this regard we demand that the people of Zimbabwe should have a democratic and people driven constitution which must lead to free and fair elections by 2011.

5. The unilateral use of the special presidential decree to reduce the powers of other political parties must be urgently looked at and reversed.

6. The unconstitutional appointment of the Attorney General, Reserve Bank Governor must be reversed and new appointments made by 24 March 2010 and the swearing in of Deputy Minister of Agriculture Designate Roy Bennet should be done before the next Cabinet Meeting. In fact all sticking issues in the Inclusive Government resolved by Wednesday 24 March 2010.

We also urge SADC, AU and the international community to extend travel restrictions on those who continue to violate the rights of the people of Zimbabwe. The Global Political Agreement must be respected and all perpetrators of human rights abuses and other injustices must be brought to book. To this end the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Youth Committee will be marching in the streets of Harare today on the 11th of March 2010. The march will serve to remind those who committed the injustices of 11 March and others that the people of Zimbabwe demand justice. The youth will also submit a petition to President Mugabe, Justice Minister Chinamasa and the parliament outlining the above-mentioned demands.

For and on behalf of the young people of Zimbabwe and the Youth Committee of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet

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