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This article participates on the following special index pages:

Zimbabwe Briefing - Issue 76
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (SA Regional Office)
May 30, 2012

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Zimbabwe Civil Society Statement on the Conditions to be met Before Elections

Zimbabwe civil society organisations have issued a set of minimum conditions which are to be met in order to ensure that Zimbabwe holds democratic elections. These are summarized below

A new, democratic constitution that conforms to local and regional expectations and to international best practice and standards must be in place before elections are held.

All security agents including the Central Intelligence Organisation and the Attorney General's Office must speak and act in a manner consistent with professionalism, independence and non-partisan conduct in the exercise of their constitutional mandate and be answerable to parliament on terms of the law.

All military and security operatives currently deployed across the country be recalled immediately to the barracks and be confined there.

All Security Chiefs must respect results of elections regardless of their outcome and refrain from interfering with, and making unlawful political pronouncements on political and electoral matters.

The independence, non-partisanship and professionalism of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) must be ensured. In this regard ZEC must be accountable to Parliament and not to a minister, as is currently the case.

ZEC must legally empowered to take full responsibility and control of the process to establish clean and credible voters' roll.

The Inclusive Government must ensure a safe space for women's effective participation in all democratisation processes, including the adoption of a mixed electoral system that provides for effective participation of women in politics.

There be urgent repeal or extensive amendment of repressive laws such as AIPPA, BSA, Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and the Interception of Communications Act that continue to impinge on free journalism enterprise, free expression and the right to information access.

SADC should ensure that Zimbabwe elections are held in full compliance with SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

Given the abnormal situation obtaining in Zimbabwe where the pre and post election periods are characterised by widespread violence, SADC and the AU are urged to deploy long-term monitoring and observation teams for six months after the elections to monitor the prevailing conditions and prevent state sponsored violence and intimidation.

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