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Congratulations! Makorokoto! Amhlope to ZESN on its 10th anniversary
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
November 23, 2010
The Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition joins the Zimbabwe
Elections Support Network (ZESN) in commemorating its 10th anniversary.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition wishes to express its solidarity
with ZESN and recognizes its relentless fight for democratic elections
in Zimbabwe. We acknowledge ZESN's sterling work in exposing
electoral malpractices over the past decade and in working with
both State and non-State actors to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe
are allowed to exercise their universal suffrage right to choose
their own government in periodic free and fair elections.
The Coalition
is however concerned with the failure by the Inclusive Government
to create a conducive political environment that allows people to
freely participate in national processes including elections. The
violence and intimidation that was perpetrated with impunity by
political party functionaries before and during the public consultations
phase of the Constitution-making process point to the urgent need
for institutional and legislative reforms before elections planned
for 2011 are held.
The failure
by government to dismantle the infrastructure of violence, including
disbanding militia and vigilante groups, is serious cause for concern
to peace-loving Zimbabweans. The Coalition advises the Inclusive
Government to direct its efforts towards creating a conducive political
environment that allows free political participation.
For the impending
elections, The Coalition wishes to reiterate the following demands
in order to facilitate the holding of a free, fair and democratic
election;
- The immediate
dismantling of all infrastructure of violence and prosecution
of all those implicated regardless of political affiliation. To
this end, The Coalition calls for the recalling of all military
personnel allegedly deployed in villages across the country.
- The independence
of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and reformation of
the ZEC secretariat. The Coalition is concerned by reports that
the State Intelligence agents are part of the ZEC Secretariat
and are currently receiving training on how to manipulate the
impending elections.
- That ZEC
be in charge of all electoral processes including voter registration
and compilation of the voter's roll. The Registrar-General's
office should not continue to be in charge of the voter's
roll.
- That media
freedom be restored and guaranteed particularly the liberation
of the state media and licensing of independent radio and television
stations. The Coalition is appalled by the partisan abuse of the
public broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) by
certain political parties that are already playing jingles for
campaigning purposes.
- The early
accreditation and safety of local and international observers.
The international observers should be invited by all parties to
the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) no less than six (6) months before
the election.
- That the
role of inviting and accrediting of all observers should fall
under the election management body. The observers should have
distinct regalia that cannot be accessed by other entities for
preposterous reasons. The Coalition makes this specific demand
because, in the past, there have been reports of some parties
clothing their agents with election observer regalia to allow
them to compile information on activities by CSOs and opposition
activists for future reprisals by State security agents.
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in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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