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Negotiated settlements the greatest threat to peace and security in Africa
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
May 25, 2010

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) joins the rest of the African continent in commemorating the 47th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU). The OAU was established on May 25, 1963. In 2002, the OAU became the African Union (AU). This is the day when the continent should be celebrating unity and the long held objectives of self-determination, rule of law and democracy. Regrettably, these principles remain remote and "alien" to the realities of African people as they are violated with impunity in the majority of our countries.

This year's theme is peace and security in Africa - a strongly held aspiration on the continent as evidenced by the establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the AU and articulated in the founding Protocol. The Council's primary objective is to promote peace, security and stability in Africa, in order to guarantee the protection and preservation of life and property, the well being of the African people and their environment, as well as the creation of conditions conducive to sustainable development. However, the prevailing situation in Africa runs contrary to the objectives set out in the Protocol. The continent is failing to come up with concrete solutions that can effectively end conflict on the continent. The failure to address problems in Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia and now Zimbabwe, typify the dereliction of responsibility by the continent's leadership. The continent's peoples remain exposed to violence and instability, and consequently, poverty and suffering.

The single greatest threat to peace and security across the continent is the unfortunate acceptance by the AU of mediated democracies or settlements as opposed to elected democracies. Zimbabwe, Kenya and Madagascar are examples of such processes, which have led to the formation of coalition or so-called inclusive governments. For as long as Africans are denied their right to fully and freely participate in the government of their countries, there will always be contested leadership, which inevitably has the potential of degenerating into conflict.

The formation of the OAU (now the AU) was a fundamental political step in as far as it gave new political impetus to the people of Africa. The founding principles of the OAU, as consolidated in the AU Constitutive Act of 2002, require popular participation through free and fair elections. It was not envisaged that governments would come into being through negotiated or brokered agreements. This growing phenomenon on the African continent is a negation of the aspirations of our founding fathers.

Accordingly the Forum implores the continent, in particular Zimbabweans, to guard against negotiated processes or any other manifestation that circumvents electoral processes thereby usurping the power of the electorate. The call for free and fair elections can never be overempahsised. The Forum further calls upon all progressive elements in Zimbabwe's inclusive government to work towards the development of strong democratic institutions and culture, observance of human rights and the rule of law, as well as the implementation of post-conflict recovery programmes and sustainable development policies. These remain essential for the promotion of collective security, durable peace and stability, as well as for the prevention of conflicts.

Visit the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum fact sheet

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