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Zimbabwe: A way forward
Open Society Institute for Southern Africa
November 04, 2009

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Executive Summary

The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) makes the following recommendations:

a) That an ad-hoc delegation (sourced from South Africa in support of its mediation role or from SADC or the AU) be deployed with immediate effect to monitor and report on incidents of political violence and intimidation.

b) That SADC, as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement (and in its absence other regional or international entities), ensure effective implementation of the GPA and a definitive resolution of the outstanding issues as per the SADC communiqué of 26-27 January 2009, and in particular, secure an end to political violence and to partisan use of security forces, the legal system and other state apparatus.

c) That a comprehensive, standing presence of SADC and/or the AU be stationed in Zimbabwe until such time as a new Constitution has been drafted, that the draft has been submitted to referendum and that free and fair presidential and legislative elections have been held. And that the standing presence be coupled with a pooled fund, supported by the international donor community, overseen by sector experts, to ensure that education, health care, water sanitation services and food distribution remain uninterrupted.

Zimbabwe Today

The Global Political Agreement (GPA), between ZANU-PF, MDC-T and MDC-M, and guaranteed by SADC, while always tenuous, faces a greater prospect of unravelling today than at any previous time - plunging the country back to the crisis levels of 2008, characterised by a breakdown in service delivery, economic collapse, food shortages and an outbreak of cholera. The prospective fallout also portends a return to widespread, even increased, political violence.

During its short tenure, the inclusive government - established under the GPA - has made demonstrable progress: stabilizing inflation, bringing down the price of food (although this remains high) and allowing for a return to work of doctors who had been on strike and teachers who had abandoned their posts. And although the process and progress leaves much to be desired, it has begun the important work of developing a new constitution.

However, the parliament - having met only intermittently - has failed to repeal repressive legislation such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). As such, the environment continues to be one in which freedom of expression and assembly are severely curtailed. In addition, the state-owned media remains strongly biased in favour of ZANU-PF, raising questions about the credibility of the constitution-making process.

In recent weeks, the MDC has announced a policy of non-cooperation in respect of working with ZANU-PF in government - retaining its cabinet posts but withdrawing from cabinet meetings and active cooperation with ZANU-PF ministries. Of great concern are accounts of increased abductions carried out by state agents against political opponents, and the reports of increased violence by soldiers against villagers - particularly in Mashonaland East.

In recent days, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak was denied entry into Zimbabwe, despite an earlier invitation.

In order to rescue the GPA, to ensure that the inclusive government continues to function and that effective response to key aspects of the crisis is ensured, OSISA makes the following proposals - the first two requiring immediate realisation and the third proposal needing to be enacted over the medium-term.

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