|
Back to Index, Back to Special Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
COSATU
supports call for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe
Congress
of South African Trade Unions
(COSATU)
July 23, 2013
COSATU notes
with concern the situation in our neighbouring country of Zimbabwe.
Having traveled the long journey with our fellow comrades thus far,
we are proud of the remarkable steps forward made by the people
of Zimbabwe towards creating a sustainable momentum for free
and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
We recognise
the sacrifices, determination and resilience of the working and
poor masses of Zimbabwe in their decisive struggles for democracy
that created a regional momentum not seen since the anti-colonial
and apartheid struggles. We are proud to have played a part towards
that end and pledge to continue being part of the movement for the
renewal and democratisation of Southern Africa.
The critical
lesson derived from the Zimbabwean crisis is that without a continuous
struggle to deepen democracy, provide profound alternatives to the
failures of neo-liberalism and restore the centrality of the people
as the sovereign in any country, there can be never be sustainable
progress and improvement in the quality of lives of the people.
We are convinced that the struggle for democracy at home is at the
same time a struggle for democracy on a global scale, hence the
importance of understanding the real meaning of anti-imperialism
and the revolutionary outlook of any liberation struggle.
We take this
opportunity to salute the SADC facilitator, President Jacob Zuma
and his whole team, particularly the sterling role of the President’s
International Adviser, Lindiwe Zulu, who has been on the receiving
end of targeted and personalised attacks for her principled role
in the facilitation process. Such forthrightness, decisiveness and
firmness on principle are what SADC and any other multilateral institution
need to take forward the genuine aspirations of the people.
We are however,
disappointed that following the good directives of the SADC Maputo
Summit, the Zanu-PF regime has proceeded to unilaterally announce
an election date, which has proven to be unsuitable as the state
of readiness has clearly confirmed on the ground.
Even more worrying
are the growing incidents of violence and attacks against opposition
members canvassing in the various wards and communities, which threaten
to reverse all the good work covered by the SADC facilitation team.
We remain in
support of the holistic package of reforms that all the parties
of Zimbabwe committed themselves to in the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) signed in 2008.
They are not
just about electoral reforms, but all the critical areas requiring
reforms, including and particularly the security cluster, media
and the judiciary to embrace a diverse political dispensation and
all the people of Zimbabwe in their diverse political opinions
We call on the
coming meeting of the SADC Organ Troika to act with the required
firmness and demand all parties adhere to the agreed measures in
the GPA and that a climate for free and fair elections remains central
to real and tangible progress in Zimbabwe.
COSATU sends
revolutionary regards to the people of Zimbabwe as they embark upon
this historic journey - the struggle to freely choose leaders of
their own choice and to determine their own destiny like all other
people in many parts of the world.
The right to
register, vote and express views about their own country is fundamental
to the destiny of a people in any country and the whole continent’s
path to change. We must fight and defend it wherever it is threatened,
because we all lose or win together.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
