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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Call
for immediate release of presidential election results Harmonised
Elections - 29 March 2008
Joint Statement
April 09, 2008
We, as concerned
church groups, civil society organizations and responsible citizens
of Zimbabwe would like to register our collective concern about
the failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to release
Presidential election results. We believe that the election results
are not just the concern of political parties but all genuine peace
loving Zimbabweans. It is of paramount importance that ZEC announces
the results so that we can begin the process of nation building,
engagement, healing and reconstruction. In this context of lack
of information regarding the elections we, the undersigned therefore
submit the following concerns and proposals:
1. ZEC principles
of accountability, transparency and impartiality must be respected
and it should be allowed to complete its mandate to announce the
results. We notice with concern that ZEC officials have been arrested
for results which have not yet been announced.
2. That even
though Zimbabweans exercised their constitutional right to vote,
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission seems to have abdicated the
imperative, duty and responsibility of timeously releasing results
of the presidential election.
3. Failure
to release the results has resulted in unnecessary anxiety and
tension amongst our traditionally patient and peace loving populace.
4. In the
absence of vital information about who will lead us in the future,
we as Zimbabweans find ourselves in the precarious position of
not being able to plan our future or to even pray for our leaders
since we do not even know who won the presidential election.
5. The elections
are for and by the people of Zimbabwe and therefore they have
a right to know the outcome of the presidential elections. It
is incumbent upon ZEC to release the results as a matter of urgency.
The longer ZEC refuses to announce the results the more the nation
is declared irrelevant to its own processes.
6. If ZEC
has legitimate reasons for not yet announcing the presidential
election results they should let the nation know the reasons for
the delay.
7. Delay in
resolving issues is at the expense of the long suffering populace,
'justice delayed is justice denied'
We appeal to
Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU)
and both religious and civic leaders at all levels to exert the
required and necessary pressure upon ZEC to release the results
of the Presidential election as a matter of primary importance.
"My people
perish because of lack of knowledge Hosea 4vs 6"
Association
of Evangelicals in Africa, Ethics, Peace and Justice Desk (AEA)
Bulawayo Agenda
Christian Alliance
Grace To Heal
Habakkuk Trust
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and Men Of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) [WOZA]
Radio
Dialogue
Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU)
Catholic
Commission for Justice and Peace (Bulawayo Archdiocese)
BARA (Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association)
Zimbabwe National Pastors Conference (ZNPC)
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