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This article participates on the following special index pages:

Election Bulletin
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
February 22, 2002

Stakeholders Conference Resolutions
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions

We the undersigned organisations gathered at an all stakeholders’ conference held in Harare on the 16 February 2002 note the following:

1. that there is widespread violence and intimidation of the electorate by organised state sponsored forces targeted mostly at members of the opposition and civil society
2. that there is unequal access to national media (both print and electronic for parties contesting the Presidential elections
3. that as a result of state sponsored violence, there is unequal access to the various constituencies throughout the country
4. that thre is a deliberate effort to disenfranchise those sections of the Zimbabwean community suspected of being sympathetic to the opposition. This is done through:
• confiscation of identity cards
• barring of Zimbabweans in the diaspora from voting
• displacements through violence
• legislative restrictions.
5. that the state has sponsored and pushed through draconian legislation calculated to severely restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms of Zimbabweans
6. that there has been a deliberate selective application of the law by state agencies and officials. In particular the Zimbabwe Republic Police seem to have abdicated their responsibility to protect all Zimbabweans. The Zimbabwe National Army has through its hierarchy openly threatened not to respect the will of the people of Zimbabwe to choose a leader of their choice.
7. That all these problems emanate from a defective constitution and a refusal by the state to engage in an all inclusive national process of constitutional reform

In the light of the foregoing, we as representatives of civil society demand the following:

1. The immediate cessation of all state-sponsored violent activities. This must entail the disbandment of the youth and other militia. The immediate closure of the so-called "re-education camps" and bases used by such militia.
2. The equitable access to both print and electronic media for all presidential candidates
3. That the ZRP must play their rightful role in ensuring equitable access to all the 120 constituencies by the presidential candidates and their political parties
4. That Zimbabweans in the diaspora should be allowed to exercise their suffrage rights, without any restrictions
5. The immediate repeal of the five offensive repressive pieces of legislation
6. That there be no-partisan enforcement of the law by all state agencies, including impartial investigation and prosecution of cases of political violence
7. The army should remain impartial and professional vis-à-vis the electoral process. The defence chiefs should retract their threat against the electorate.
8. That the state should protect the rights and freedoms of all Zimbabweans, irrespective of their political affiliations or persuasions.
9. That the issue of constitutional reform is more fundamental now than ever before in the resolution of the national crisis. We call up all candidates in the presidential election to make this one of their highest priorities both before and after the elections.
10. That civil society be allowed to monitor the election

In the event of the fore-going demands not being attended to satisfactorily, we undertake to take the following specific actions:

• mass stay-aways
• public demonstrations for peace and justice
• mass prayer for peace
• regular briefings with local, regional and international partners
• dialogue with state authorities on the above demands.

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