Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Statement by CPIA on the eve of Zimbabwe's 2008 harmonised elections
Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA)
March 28, 2008

As the election campaigns winds down, the Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) would like to applaud Zimbabweans for holding these campaigns in a relatively peaceful and non-violent manner. We however strongly regret and condemn the instances of violence that have been reported.

As the nation goes to vote tomorrow, Saturday 29th March 2008, we would like to encourage all Zimbabweans to go in masses to exercise their democratic right to vote and all political parties to respect the people of Zimbabwe's democratic right to express their wishes without any form of intimidation and/or physical violence.

CPIA regards the elections as crucial in bringing about unity and reconciliation in Zimbabwe.

We urge the Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) observers in the country to witness the entire process of elections, counting and announcing of the results in their respective stations and to remain in the country until a Government is formed.

The Centre calls upon all political parties to respect the election results.

We would like to call upon the party that wins the elections to implement our Kariba Communiqué recommendations; to uphold good governance through the immediate establishment of a government of national unity and reconciliation as well as enact a people-driven Constitution leading to a new dispensation. We would like to further call upon the SADC's initiative on Zimbabwe to continue after the elections and for it to reach a logical conclusion.

CPIA is a regional peace organization based in Harare, Zimbabwe, established in February 2001 and endeavours to make a contribution towards the promotion of sustainable peace, stability and security in Africa, through conflict prevention, management and resolution.

We have over the past years worked with various national and regional stakeholders to promote the implementation of SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections as a vehicle in the prevention and management of electoral conflicts.

We would like to thank the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for accrediting us to observe this year's harmonised elections.

Dr. L.T. Kapungu
Executive Director

Visit the CPIA fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP