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Message
of solidarity and good will
The
National Convention Assembly (NCA) of Kenya
March 18,
2005
NCA-NCEC
COMMUNIQUÉ
TO THE PEOPLE
OF ZIMBABWE ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
THROUGH
THEIR CIVIL
SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICAL
PARTIES AND
THE STATUTORY INSTITUTIONS ORGANIZING THE MARCH 31,2005 ELECTIONS
A MESSAGE
OF SOLIDARITY AND GOOD WILL AS YOU UNDERTAKE YOUR DEMOCRATIC DUTY
OF RENEWING THE STRUGGLE FOR A JUST AND PROSPEROUS ZIMBABWE:
The National
Convention Assembly (NCA) of Kenya through its National Convention
Executive Council (NCEC) sends a message of solidarity to you all
the people of Zimbabwe as you prepare to undertake the all important
duty of renewing your struggle for a just and prosperous Zimbabwe.
NCA is a reform- Minded Liberation Movement that supports the democratic
transformation Agenda in Kenya and Africa to offer a basis for just
Political, economic and, social governance and development.
NCA-NCEC shares
the anxieties surrounding the forth coming elections in your country
because of the various challenges surrounding the process in the
countdown to the March 31, 2005 elections.
In the NCA-NCEC
view, the main challenges that you face at this crucial elections
include the following;
- The fundamentally
flawed electoral system that permits the incumbent administration
to nominate upto 30 legislators to the Zimbabwe Legislature. We
are of the view that a Mixed Members proportionate representation
would serve the country better. NCEC’s fear is that President
Mugabe’s Administration is utilizing this flawed system to hold
on to power and serve his personal interests and those of Zanu-PF
at the expense of democratization, social justice and economic
development of your country which over the last five years has
been faced with a deepening governance and economic crisis.
- The structural
and Administrative pitfalls of elections including the manipulability
and the far from impartial nature of the National Elections Commission.
NCA-NCEC is not convinced that the minimal administrative reforms
that the government introduced last year offer any assurance for
the impartial and competent elections management. Our Kenyan experience
in 1997 after the infamous Inter Parliamentary Parties Group (IPPG)
minimal reforms show that administrative reforms on their own
do not provide sufficient conditions for the conduct of democratic,
fair and legitimate elections.
- The Environment
within which Zimbabwe is conducting her elections is far from
conducive. Widespread reports of the threat of violence by the
state as the case was in Zimbabwe’s two previous elections; and
the manipulation of food aid as a tool of campaigns targeted at
wooing voters in favour of Zanu-PF are two great concerns to the
NCA-NCEC.
We are further
concerned that the continued operation of various colonial and draconian
laws under the pretext of public order, secrecy and control of NGO’s
operations has hindered and will continue to contravene the inherent
liberties and rights of the people of Zimbabwe. As Kenyans, having
revolted against these discredited legislations, we fear that such
legal regimes only serve the interests of the all powerful presidency
and never the people. They contribute to an environment of victimization
and state repression and never democracy and freedom.
NCA-NCEC is
disappointed that a revolutionary and freedom fighter such as President
Mugabe has digressed into the undemocratic path of authoritarian
state craft – a path that tyrants such as our former President Daniel
Toroitich Arap Moi were adept at and one that Uganda’s Yoweri Kaguta
Museveni is quickly mastering to stay in power at all costs. As
Africans we call upon you to turn this election into an opportunity
to recapture the initiative of ridding your country of the culture
of violence, conflict, human rights violations and impunity.
NCEC is concerned
that the Member States of the SADC Community have done little to
persuade the administration of President Robert Mugabe to institute
the needed fundamental reforms to level out the playing ground for
all the actors in the upcoming elections since the passing of the
SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections (that
Zimbabwe Ratified on 19 August, 2004) . NCEC is particularly concerned
that President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has not optimally utilized
his dominant position and influence within the SADC to assist the
democratization process in Zimbabwe.
WHILE
NCA-NCEC rejects the preposterous and way-ward ultimatums and statements
emanating from Washington, London and other Northern capitals that
have attempted to wrongly characterize your beloved country and
particularly the leadership of President Robert Mugabe as evil and
one that has made Zimbabwe an " outpost of tyranny";
KNOWING that
the motive of this US led aggressive policy against Zimbabwe is
not in the interest of her people; that the imperialist states of
the north including the United States of America are currently utilizing
the banner of expanding " their fashion of democracy "
to undermine the efforts of developing nations to combat poverty
and marginalization; And aware that the so called fight against
international terrorism is a new avenue for avoiding their responsibility
in the global achievement of the Millennium development goals a
policy that has essentially made these US led- aggressive states
countries the greatest enemies of democracy and human rights;
AND WHILE
we laud the gallant struggles that the people of Zimbabwe waged
for decades to overthrow the white fascist imperialist- tyranny
of Ian Smith- the fore bearer of the British Empire; And while we
recognize that in similar ways the British evil colonial occupation
denigrated and violated the humanity of our people in Kenya resulting
to mass murders, economic sabotage and national dismembering;
NCA-NCEC finds
the leadership of President Mugabe increasingly objectionable and
bordering on the scandalizing of the people of Africa in general.
President Mugabe in our observation has tended to treat Zimbabweans
like a lot of people without sovereignty, pride, values or aspirations
and a nation that has no ability to choose what is right. President
Mugabe has turned out as highly paternalistic, high handed and derogatory.
The Zanu-PF
administration in our view has unfortunately used the Agenda of
Land redistribution to perpetuate its hold on power at all costs.
President Mugabe has hence turned genuine grievances and legitimate
aspirations of the People of Zimbabwe emanating from within and
without Zimbabwe into fodder for driving the propaganda machine
that labels any opposition to his unfortunate and shortsighted leadership
as a project of Tony Blair’s and George Bush’s machinations.
We call upon
you the People of Zimbabwe to open active resistance to the
unfortunate acts of manipulation and blackmail by President Mugabe’s
administration. Since the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) Administration
of President Mwai Kibaki is totally incapable and increasingly lost
the credentials necessary to employ the forums of the African Union
and other continental forums to promote the Agenda of democratization
in Zimbabwe and indeed in Africa; We have chosen to directly send
this message to you to urge you to use this lections as an opportunity
to without fear re-assert your sovereignty and express your will.
Your destiny lies not with the North, USA or Mr. Mugabe but with
the Zimbabweans themselves. Your struggles Must be People driven!
From our own
experiences in Kenya, NCA-NCEC is aware that the challenge before
you is daunting but surmountable. So carry on with the struggle
for the Zimbabwe people’s will must prevail. Long Live Zimbabwe!
In Solidarity
For the NCA-NCEC
REV. TIMOTHY
M. NJOYA, PHD.
THE NCA
CO-CONVENER AND SPOKESPERSON
Contact: ncec@ncamovement.org
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