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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Post
election violence
Zimbabwe Human
Rights NGO Forum
May 22, 2008
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) condemns in the
strongest terms the violence that has gripped the country following
the 29 March 2008 elections. The Forum is of the opinion that the
current environment of violence and intimidation is not conducive
for the holding of free and fair elections.
The SADC Principles
and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections call upon member states
to adhere to the principles of political tolerance, acceptance and
respect of the election results by political parties proclaimed
. . . .by the competent National Electoral Authorities in accordance
with the law of the land. The Forum views these principles as being
pivotal to any democratic process. The politically motivated violence
that followed the announcement of the 29 March 2008 election results
goes against these principles and undermines the entire democratic
process in the country.
The Forum has
received numerous reports of violence in the post election period.
These incidents are predominantly, but not exclusively, well orchestrated
retributive attacks by ZANU (PF) members on MDC supporters. The
pattern of violence is similar in all affected areas. These people's
militia groups are in most cases lead by the ZANU (PF) leadership
of the area and operate a base from which the attacks are launched.
In some cases these bases are used to imprison and assault abducted
citizens. These rogue vigilante groups are deployed in their hundreds
to assault citizens, loot property and destroy homes. This has resulted
in large population of Internally Displaced Persons who have nothing
but the clothes on their backs. The Forum also notes that there
are increasing reports of retaliatory attacks by MDC supporters,
which is adding to the incidents of violence.
In addition
to the Forum's regular reports on political violence it is
in the process of preparing a list of the perpetrators and will
do all that is in its power to ensure that their action do not go
unpunished and that the victims have justice.
The Zimbabwe
Human Rights NGO Forum welcomes all the efforts being made by regional
and international groupings to end the current crisis. However the
Forum is of the view that more must be done to avert further blood
shed and loss of lives. The Forum therefore calls upon the African
Union and SADC to take more concrete steps to solve this crisis,
including the sending of peace keeping missions to Zimbabwe in the
run up to the run off. It further calls upon all international groupings
to immediately deploy their observer mission to Zimbabwe as the
current wave of violence is likely to disrupt and undermine the
electoral process in the Presidential run off.
Visit the Zimbabwe
Human Rights NGO Forum fact
sheet
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