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African NGOs urge SADC governments to take action on civil liberties in Zimbabwe and Swaziland
OneWorld
August 21, 2003

Several non-governmental organization (NGO) networks in the SADC region yesterday issued an open letter to their heads of government, focusing on ongoing events undermining civil liberties and civil society in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. The open letter emerged from a workshop convened by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation at a gathering of the SADC Council of NGOs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday 19 August. The letter is being distributed during the SADC Heads of Government meeting taking place in the Tanzanian capital this week.

Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General and a member of Kofi Annan’s Eminent Persons Panel on UN-civil society relations, commented, "Civil society organizations in Southern Africa and across the African continent have welcomed our governments’ recent statements expressing their commitment to good governance, a respect for human rights and efforts to eradicate corruption. We are now urging our governments to give substantive effect to these commitments."

"The organisations convened in Tanzania are deeply appreciative of the need to ensure that we do not de-historicize the challenges faced in the region. We do, however, emphasize that the voices of citizens and civil society must be respected and taken into account by our political leaders."

The CIVICUS workshop on Tuesday was briefly attended by the Zimbabwe High Commissioner to Tanzania, Chipo Zindongo, who said, "I am here to listen, but we should not demonise President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwean government". Zindongo walked out of the forum, however, in the middle of a presentation by Nokuthula Moyo, from the Zimbabwe Crisis Coalition. Moyo had been speaking about the grave implications of recent repressive legislation on civil society in Zimbabwe.

The Full Text of the Open Letter Follows Below.

For further Information please contact:
Dr. Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General (kumi@civicus.org) and CEO or David Kalete, Programmes Director (kalete@civicus.org) at CIVICUS +27-11-833 5959

Open letter to the SADC Summit

H.E. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos - Angola
H.E. President Festus Mogae - Botswana
H.E. President President Joseph Kabila - Democratic Republic of Congo
Prime Minister, The Kingdom of Lesotho - Lesotho
H.E. President Bakili Muluzi - Malawi
Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnawth - Mauritius
H.E. President Joaquim Chissano - Mozambique
H.E. President Sam Nujoma - Namibia
H.E. President Albert Rene - Seychelles
H.E. President Thabo Mbeki - South Africa
H.R.H King Mswati III - Swaziland
H.E. President Benjamin Mkapa - Tanzania
H.E. President Levy Mwanawasa - Zambia
H.E. President Robert Mugabe - Zimbabwe

Your Excellencies,

We, representatives of 21 civil society networks representing a total membership of over 4000 member organisations from 11 countries want to address your Excellencies on matters affecting Civil Society and the people of Zimbabwe and Swaziland specifically, but more generally impacting on the entire SADC region.

Specific protocols, treaties and resolutions have been promulgated within SADC to enhance the attainment and protection of human rights and democracy, social and economic development. In expecting to realise the benefits of theses protocols, the people of the region have continued to support SADC programmes through the member tax based contributions.

However, the CSOs named herein have learned with concern that there are violations of these protocols, treaties or resolutions, to the disadvantage of their countries’ citizens.

Your Excellencies, we draw your attention to the situation in Swaziland and Zimbabwe

With regard to The Kingdom of Swaziland:

• His Majesty the King of Swaziland has recently unilaterally initiated a Government driven Constitutional Review Process, which excluded the people of Swaziland and particularly civil society. His majesty the King further ordered that the draft Constitution must be adopted as the Constitution of Swaziland by October 2003 despite popular dissent by a majority of Swazi citizens.
• The rule of law in Swaziland has recently come under severe assault by the government through public proclamations dismissing Court of Appeal judgements, which led to the massive resignations of the entire Court of appeal. Judges of the High Court are also subjected to intimidation and harassment; particularly those seemingly more independent are demoted without due process.
• By these actions the Government of Swaziland has undermined the rule of law and public trust that is placed on any judiciary.

With regard to Zimbabwe

• The Government of Zimbabwe has recently enacted the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), which among other things criminalises civil liberties and sanctions heavy penalties against people of that country.
• The Government of Zimbabwe amended the electoral laws with the impact of outlawing of civic education, monitoring of elections by independent monitors and enhancing secrecy with regard to the electoral register.

We therefore call upon your Excellencies to:

Call upon the King and the Government of Swaziland to:

• Immediately repeal all unjust and repressive laws, in particular the Kings proclamation to the nation of 12th April 1973 and the Police and Public Order Act of 1963.
• Immediately restore the just rule of law and restore the independence of the judiciary
• Ensure a transparent, open and participatory constitutional review process and in particular allow the active participation of civil society

Call upon the President of the Government of Zimbabwe to:

• Immediately repeal all unjust and repressive laws, in particular the POSA
• Review the constitution and amend electoral laws to ensure civic education, civil society participation and transparent electoral processes.
• Work towards a negotiated political settlement in Zimbabwe, which shall involve all political parties, faith based organisations and civil society within reasonable time frames.

Recognising the enormous tasks your Excellencies face, we the undersigned wish you well in the deliberations ahead of you.

Yours Cordially,
South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO), National Association of NGOs in Zimbabwe (NANGO), Tanzanian Association of NGOs (TANGO), National Welfare and Social Services and Development Forum in South Africa (NWSSDF), the Congress of NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA), the Botswana Council of NGOs (BOCONGO), The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Civil Liberties Association of Malawi, the Mauritius Council on Social Services (MACOSS), the Union of NGOs in Seychelles (LUNGOS), Zambian Council for Social Development (ZCSD), Tanzanian Council on Social Development (TACOSODE), Namibia NGO Forum (NANGOF), Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations of Swaziland, Eastern and Southern African Centre for NGO Reflection (MWENGO), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

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