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Zimbabwe Briefing Issue 37
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
(SA Regional Office)
August 03, 2011
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Civics
reflect on strategies to combat xenophobia
On the 30th of July in Durban, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional
Office partnered with Human Rights Institute of South Africa, Zimbabwe
Solidarity Forum, Solidarity
Peace Trust, South African Council of Churches and SANGCO to
host a seminar at the University of Kwazulu-Natal. Over 100 Zimbabweans
and South Africans attended the seminar meant to inform people on
the current political situation in Zimbabwe.
Dew Mavhinga,
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Coordinator, in his presentation
noted that the Global
Political Agreement had failed to resolve the political conflict
in Zimbabwe as instruments of violence remained intact and polarization
remained entrenched. He further noted that the proposed election
roadmap being developed under the SADC auspices had so far been
rejected by both ZANU-PF and MDC-T political parties, leaving the
entire process uncertain and hanging in balance.
On the constitutional
making process, the participants at the seminar indicated that they
preferred a genuinely people-driven process as opposed to the current
process run by political parties. Citing the recent violence
and disruptions of the Parliament
business by ZANU-PF supporters who were not arrested, one Zimbabwean
lamented that it is very difficult if not impossible to have a people
driven constitution with the current environment in Zimbabwe of
intimidation, state sponsored violence and extreme intolerance.
One exciting
thing that the participants shared in common was their unshakable
faith and hope for better Zimbabwe in the near future.
The solidarity
from South Africans in the crowd was so powerful as speaker after
speaker urged Zimbabweans to be resolute in their struggle for democracy
and justice. Turning to xenophobia, most Zimbabweans in Durban expressed
their fear due to the expiring of amnesty.
Dr Lucas Mogoetjana,
the Provincial Advocacy (SACC) in Durban advised that a lot needs
to be done ata community level in South Africa as a way of cubing
xenophobia. He informed that SACC, together with South African Police
in Durban, a re going into the communities and show people the advantages
of staying together as human beings- social cohesion. He noted that
SACC is using language and culture as forces for social cohesion,
to build understanding and mutual respect and to dispel feelings
that give rise to xenophobia, the fear or dislike of strangers or
foreigners which is often acted upon in violence. He noted that
SACC has also resorted to use of South Africa's constitution,
laws and statutes to address the challenge of xenophobia and to
promote social cohesion.
These sentiments
were echoed by Ms Gugu Shelembe, also form the SACC at the heart
of xenophobia is the issue of competition for resources and power
that is not equally shard, and misuse of language to promote differences.
SACC is engaged in community dialogues and capacity enhancements
that include relevant government departments that include relevant
government departments such as the police who come together to engage
with communities.
The seminars
came with recommendations and mandated the organising committee
to forward them to SADC, Zimbabwe government and South African government.
On the recommendations, people want a clear point of action of the
South African government on undocumented Zimbabweans, allowing Zimbabweans
outside the country to vote and increasing community based activities
amongst foreigners and South Africans.
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