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Rogue states lambasted at ACHPR 44th session gathering of African Human Rights NGO's
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)
November 07, 2008

Hundreds of civil society organizations from across Africa gathered today in Abuja, Nigeria to discuss pertinent human rights issues affecting Africa. The African Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) commenced its sitting today as part of a 3 day event that precedes the 44th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). The Forum is the supreme continental NGO body that traditionally assists the ACHPR in the discharge of its human rights promotional and protective mandates, and plays a key role in some of the resolutions and recommendations that are adopted by the ACHPR for forwarding to the African Union.

The gathering in Nigeria today saw several states singled out for serious criticism for among others, wanton human rights violations, the holding of elections that are not free and fair, breakdown in the rule of law and conflict. The Session was graced by among others, the Chairperson of the African Commission, Her Excellence Sanji Monageng and the Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa. In her address, the Chairperson of the African Commission observed that Zimbabwe continues to pose pressing human rights concerns and that the Commission stands with those who suffer oppression and the brutalities of war in countries such as Somalia and the DRC. She empasised that it was time for practical interventions rather than speeches by civil society actors.The Honourable Minister of Justice of Nigeria observed that the protection of human rights and the rule of law are key elements of democratic governance that are needed by a continent whose major problem is that its 'presidents see themselves as the law' rather than that they are accountable to the people and therefore governed by the law.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Mr Jibrin Ibrahima also lamented the deterioration of democracy and human rights on the continent, citing 'the tragic drama in Zimbabwe' and condemning in the strongest terms 'regimes of terror' that are denying 'basic rights' to the African citizenry. He however paid accolades to Ghana, which has been progressing. Mr Wale Fapohunda, the Managing Partner of the Legal Resources Consortium lamented the fact that most of the elections held on the continent are neither free and fair, and that they 'are not for the people, nor by the people'.

Other speakers included Mr Gabriel Shumba, the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) and Ms Collert Letlojane, Director of the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA). The two gave a gloomy overview of the situation of human rights in Southern Africa, although they noted that Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana have made meaningful gains to consolidate their democracies. Mr Shumba and Ms Letlojane also singled out for criticism Swaziland for violating freedom of assembly and association and to condemn the recently held elections in that country. Mr Shumba criticized South Africa for its treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, and also lamented 'this once bastion of democracy's regression into intolerance'.

He also deplored the imposition of 'so-called governments of national unity on the people of Zimbabwe to the detriment of the will of the people' and lamented the fact that the agreement between the major political parties seems to encourage impunity in that 'it does not seriously deal with the issue of justice and accountability for those who have committed abductions, torture, murder, and other crimes against humanity in that country.'

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