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State securocrats urged to exercise professionalism
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
August 11, 2011
'Zimbabwe
can never be ready for elections unless a roadmap to hold free and
fair elections is drawn. The roadmap should have benchmarks, mechanisms
and gestures that convince Zimbabweans that their own choice of
a leader is respected'.
These sentiments, which serve to re-affirm the urgent need for security
sector reform as a precursor to any electoral process, were echoed
by Honorable Douglas Mwonzora the Movement for Democratic Change
Spokesperson at a public meeting held by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
on the 4th of August 2011.
Political parties
in the Inclusive
Government should address fundamental reforms that will give
legitimacy and credibility to any future elections in the country.
The current composition of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)
and adamancy by ZANU PF to change the ZEC secretariat confirm the
desperate maneuvers by ZANU PF to evade the conducting of free and
fair elections in Zimbabwe. The Commission whose staff compliment
includes ZANU PF symphathisers, high ranking officials in the military,
the police, and the Central Intelligence Organisation, who are also
politically compromised, needs overhaul otherwise the Commission
will fail to discharge its mandate in a non-partisan and professional
manner that guarantees free and fair elections. As such the conducting
of elections should be a civilian process, governed by a complete
civilian institution, and presided over by a civil, independent
and non-partisan secretariat, participants at the meeting noted.
The meeting
which was held under the topic, 'Violence, Sanctions, Security
Reform, Indigenisation and Electoral Road Map: Who is fooling who
ahead of the SADC Summit?', was meant to critic the role of
the GNU in bringing abt critical reforms and to also engage with
political parties in the GPA
on what the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Summit
scheduled for Angola this months is going to deliver for Zimbabwe.
It brought together speakers from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations.
Dr. Lovemore Madhuku, the Chairperson of the National
Constitutional Assembly (NAC) was the discussant.
The fundamental
key issues also raised at the meeting were as follows:
- The state
security agents should execute their duties in a nonpartisan and
professional manner and stay true to the provisions of the Defense
and police Acts.
- The Zimbabwe
Electoral commission demilitarized and must be independent from
influences of any political party.
- The security
forces should be for the people and not for politicians and should
lastly execute their duties in a professional, non-partisan manner.
- ZANU PF should
stop monopolizing the liberation struggle and realise the fact
that a revolution does not end with the attainment of independence
form colonial rule but with winning the battle against oppression
be it black or white oppression.
- The government
should ensure that whatever decisions made or policies implemented
viz-a-viz economic recovery ought to be for the benefit of all
Zimbabweans and not a minority.
- No elections
should be held until there is an election roadmap that ensures
an end to political violence, security sector reform and one that
guarantees respects for rights of freedom of expression, choice,
assembly and other fundamental freedoms.
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition therefore reiterates that there is need for fundamental
reforms that should be ushered in through a clear roadmap with timelines.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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