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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Treason charges against Munyaradzi Gwisai & others - Index of articles
Conviction of Zim human rights defenders for watching video clip
on Egyptian protests is a strategy to silence critical voices ahead
of planned elections
Centre
for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
March 21, 2012
The Centre for
Community Development In Zimbabwe (CCDZ) condemns in strongest terms
the unjustifiable sentence which was granted to University
of Zimbabwe law lecturer Munyaradzi Gwisai and five other human
rights defenders. Whilst the judgment seems lighter as compared
to the maximum sentence of 10 years in jail, we strongly feel that
the six activists were not even supposed to be tried
for watching a video clip on the protests in Egypt. We further
deplore the arrest of student and civic society activists just outside
Rotten Row for showing solidarity with their colleagues. The charges
against Gwisai and other activists are outrageous and have no place
in a democratic country.
The conviction of Gwisai and others is a clear violation of fundamental
rights such as the right to freedom of association, assembly and
conscience. This is retrogressive and indeed a sign that ZANU PF
is in serious panic ahead of the planned elections. Whilst in this
transitional period efforts should be aimed at creating an enabling
and conducive environment, ZANU PF functionaries and partisan bureaucrats
in government are frustrating democratic reforms.
Draconian Laws
such as Public
Order and Security Act (POSA) and Access
to Information Privacy and Protection Act (AIPPA) have no space
in a genuinely independent Zimbabwe. We further take this opportunity
to deplore the illegal and unjustified ban of Non Governmental Organizations
in Masvingo and other parts of the country. The ban of NGOs is identifiable
with oppressive regimes who are obsessed with power and control,
even regulating associational sphere. The ban of NGOs and incarceration
of activists is part of a wider strategy by ZANU PF to close space
ahead of the elections.
We reiterate
our position that the country is not conducive for the holding of
elections. Without a level playing field, elections will continue
to be self-legitimating rituals for ZANU PF. The holding of elections
under the current hostile environment is tantamount to declaration
of war. CCDZ will only support elections in a free and fair and
peaceful environment. This is characterized by a new democratic
constitution and Minimum Conditions of a Free and Fair Environment
as enunciated by the Global
Political Agreement.
The harmonized
elections planned for 2012 by ZANU PF are a recipe for disaster
if they are allowed to go ahead without the necessary legislative
and institutional reforms. We demand a new voters' register that
is compiled by an impartial and independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) and a new electoral law framework that allows all political
contestants to campaign freely in any part of the country without
any hindrances.
Visit the Centre
for Community Development fact
sheet
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