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Will the talks bring relief to Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
January 20, 2009

Former president of South Africa (SA) Mr Thabo Mbeki, the current South African president and Chairman of Southern African Development Commission (SADC), Mr Kgalema Motlanthe and the Mozambican president, Mr Amando Emilio Gwebuza, flew into Zimbabwe for the last ditch attempt to get President Robert Mugabe and the leaders of the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions to finalize the talks on Monday 19, January 2009. The meeting is centered on the power sharing agreement that was signed on September 15, 2008.

Quoting Morgan Tsvangirai, ZWNEWS revealed that the MDC leader is hopeful that the meeting will bring a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean crisis. However, Tsvangirai has also been quoted by ZWNEWS noting that "the MDC will not be bulldozed into an agreement which does not meet the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe". On the other hand the Herald quoted Robert Mugabe saying that 'the meeting should be decisive, but Zanu PF would not make further concessions'.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) would like to urge the parties involved to bring the finality the talks that have caused much speculation, anxiety and anticipation in the general populace for the past four months. As the parties continue to bicker, the standard of living for millions of Zimbabweans has continued to deteriorate rapidly ever since the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed late last year. Inflation has spiraled to a whopping 231%, and since October last year a number of human rights activists and opposition leaders have been abducted and the voices of civil society have been continually stifled.

The education system has since collapsed with the first term of 2009 failing to take off. Grade seven, O and A level examinations have not yet been marked, while teachers have gone on an indefinite leave - all signs of an ailing education system. The minimum fees in US$ have reportedly been pegged at US$800 - even if the schools were to open how many parents would afford such an exorbitant figure? In addition to the ailing education system, the health sector is on the verge of collapse with most government hospitals not functioning, doctors and nurses not reporting for duty as well as the acute shortage of drugs. This has left most Zimbabweans relying on mission hospitals where they have to travel long distances to get medical treatment because most private doctors are charging at least 20 United States dollars (US$20) in consultation fees only, which is beyond the reach of many ordinary citizens. The dollarization of the economy has been extended to all services including government institutions. This has worsened the plight of the worker in Zimbabwe who earns paltry Zim dollars and expected to produce US$ at the point of service.

Electricity cuts have continued unabated in most urban areas forcing many citizens to rely on the use of paraffin or firewood which have also become very expensive due to the high demand thus increasing the burden on the common Zimbabwean citizen. As if electricity blues are not enough, water has become a scarcity in Zimbabwe. When it is available it is not well treated, sewage pipes have not been repaired or serviced and refuse collection has become a thing of the past, rendering the conditions of survival not safe for humans. This has led to the outbreak of the worst cholera outbreak in living memory which has claimed more than 2,200 lives since August 2008.

Therefore ZimRights urges the concerned parties to approach the talks with the seriousness that they deserve and to reach some form of agreement to enable the formation of a functional government. Zimbabwe has not had a substantive government for more than nine months.

The meeting also comes at a time when most Zimbabweans can barely afford a meal a day, most of them relying on food aid which has reportedly been dwindling with each passing day. ZimRights is appealing to the two MDC formations and ZANU PF to take the welfare of the citizens into consideration and compromise for the benefit of the general populace.

We would also like to commend humanitarian organization that have continued to support citizens with food aid and medication to continue doing the good work as most of the citizens need the support to restore their dignity which has been eroded by the lack of life's basics.

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