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On
Africa Day, take concrete measures to further objectives of the
African Union
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
May 24, 2012
On 25 May 2012,
Zimbabwe joined the rest of Africa in celebrating Africa Day. Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) calls for reflection by the Inclusive
Government (IG) on its collective responsibility to further
the objectives of the African Union (AU).
Unity, promotion of common values of peace, security, stability
and prosperity for Africans motivated the founding fathers of the
continent to create the Organisation of African Unity more than
49 years ago. Today, as we celebrate Africa day, these values must
be reaffirmed.
With the inevitable occurrence of elections in the near future,
and their link to, and impact on regional and continental peace,
security and economic development, ZLHR notes with sadness the continued
failure by the government to adopt and implement concrete measures
to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation
and good governance in accordance with the minimum standards set
within the AU framework.
There continues to be a deafening silence and no significant progress
towards recognising one of the key instruments that will advance
peace and security in Zimbabwe, the region, and continentally. This
is the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance
(The African Charter on Democracy) that came into force on 15 February
2012.
The African Charter on Democracy seeks to promote adherence by each
State Party to the universal values and principles of democracy
and respect for human rights premised upon the supremacy of the
constitution and the respect for the rule of law. The African Charter
on Democracy seeks to usher in a new era on our continent that establishes
a link between free and fair elections, good governance and the
enjoyment of human rights by the citizens.
The African Charter on Democracy proclaims a new dawn of democracy
rooted in the rule of law and gives further impetus to Africa's
commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability
in government. It reaffirms the primacy of the rule of law and calls
on state parties to initiate appropriate measures, including legislative,
executive and administrative actions to bring State Parties'
national laws and regulations into conformity with the African Charter
on Democracy.
The IG has so far, failed to acknowledge the existence of this instrument
and to date the country has neither signed nor ratified this landmark
instrument.
ZLHR calls for commemoration of the 2012 Africa Day in Zimbabwe
with a purpose. The importance of common values leading to recognition
of this day is greatly undermined and of no effect to the lives
of ordinary citizens if the IG continues to fail to contribute positively
and proactively to further peace and security.
Inaction on the part of the IG to promote the African Charter on
Democracy and other regional human rights instruments remains unacceptable
and a dereliction of duty to facilitate peace and security in the
country and broadly on the continent.
As Zimbabwe joins other countries in celebrating the birth of a
united African Continent focused on the promotion of common values
of dignity, peace, stability and prosperity for its people, ZLHR
calls upon the government of Zimbabwe to:
- Ratify the
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance to
show its commitment towards the values encapsulated in the Charter
- Domesticate
the African Charter on Democracy framework through initiation
of appropriate measures - including legislative, executive and
administrative actions - to bring the national laws and regulations
into conformity with the African Charter on Democracy
- Reaffirm
the primacy of principles of good governance, democracy and the
rule of law in society in conformity with the African Charter
on Democracy
Visit the ZLHR
fact
sheet
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