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IBA calls on SADC leaders to take decisive action on Zimbabwe
International Bar Association (IBA)
April 11, 2008

http://www.ibanet.org/iba/article.cfm?article=162

The International Bar Association (IBA) today called on the heads of state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to seize the opportunity to put an end to the election crisis in Zimbabwe. The IBA commends the SADC leadership for calling an emergency meeting on 12 April to discuss the crisis and urges the leaders to take decisive action.

The IBA has received many credible reports of a wave of serious human rights violations across the country. Since the elections people have been threatened, abused and physically assaulted, particularly in those areas where Movement for Democratic Change candidates were successful. Journalists, lawyers and electoral officials have been threatened, arrested and held incommunicado and been physically prevented from carrying out their work. The IBA has publicly expressed its concern that such actions are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

SADC leaders must address in their meeting the following issues:

• That the results of the presidential elections which were held on 29 March must be released without further delay;
• That the Government policy of intimidation must stop immediately;
• That the wave of violence which has been documented throughout the country carried out mainly by youth militia, the military, and the police are publicly decried by the authorities and immediately ended. These acts must be investigated and where evidence found guilty persons punished;
• The widely documented use of food by the authorities as a political tool must be addressed as an urgent matter; and
• That serious concern should be raised at the illegal arrests and detentions, and that those being detained be provided access to lawyers and family and, further, charged or released in accordance with the law.

With regard to the possibility of a run-off election, the IBA is concerned that without full and unfettered monitoring of this election, the likelihood of violence, allegations of vote rigging, and lack of public and international confidence in the result, are greatly increased.

The IBA also asks the leaders of SADC to urge:

• That the Zimbabwean authorities must be obligated to permit credible international observers to enter Zimbabwe to monitor the elections for the full period until the result is published;
• That the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission, which has been irreparably discredited by their handling of this first election, must be replaced. A new Commission should be established, the composition of which must be agreed by all parties;
• That steps must be taken to ensure the free and equal ability to canvas for votes, both on the ground and through the media, in an atmosphere without violence or threats; and
• That any reports of those in positions of responsibility in the army and police instructing their personnel to vote in a particular way are immediately investigated and the results of the investigation made public.

'The IBA calls on the Southern African Development Community leaders who so publicly promised a free and fair election to the citizens of Zimbabwe to bring its influence strongly to bear to ensure democratic governance in Zimbabwe, and to minimise the risks of further suffering and violence. The future of the country, and the safety and security of its citizens, are clearly at stake, and we look to these leaders to honor their high responsibilities at this time. ' said Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director.

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