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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
June
27 Presidential election sham: One year after
Student Christian
Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ)
June 29, 2009
The Student
Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ)reflects on the 'June
27 Presidential Election Sham' one year after, with great
sorrow and pain. It is now one full year since the will of the people
of Zimbabwe was advertently subverted when ZANU PF leader Robert
Mugabe crowned himself the victor of a discredited presidential
election in 2008, in which the Movement for Democratic Change leader,
Morgan Tsvangirai opted out as a protest against a state organised
crackdown on opposition supporters and human rights defenders.
This struggle
for the democratisation of the political space in Zimbabwe has left
many players scathed, with ruthless tactics being employed to acquire,
maintain and retain a solid grip on political superiority. The Zimbabwean
political playfield has in fact been tainted by a deeply disturbing
picture of a systematic and organised campaign of violence and senseless
brutality, which has left thousands of people beaten, tortured,
displaced while others had their livestock confiscated, and homes
razed. Young people have not been spared either; in fact they have
been used as agents of violence.
The coming in of the
much praised Government of National Unity (GNU) had sown a speck
of hope to the people of Zimbabwe; little did we foresee that the
days of human torture are far from over. To date, there are reports
of continued human rights violations and deterioration for the respect
of human dignity, lack of respect for the rule of law and an exacerbating
culture of impunity which is characterised by farm invasions and
unjustified detention of human rights defenders.
It is with this background
that SCMZ reflects on the 27 June Elections and mourns the dearth
of human respect in the country. As an ecumenical movement it is
our sincere wish and desire to witness a new democratic Zimbabwe
where men and women thrive to heal, forgive and reconcile in finding
the common denominators and points of convergence in order to co-exist
in the light of this political pluralism and diversity under the
a new democratic sphere as we pursue sound governance and a people
driven constitution.
To the civic society
and other progressive movements we call for continued concerted
efforts in safeguarding human respect and dignity, for the Holy
Bible aptly says, "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall
be well with them: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings",
Isaiah 3:10
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