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East Africa: Why is EAC quiet about Zimbabwe?
Bobi Odiko, East African Business Week (Kampala)
April 28, 2008

http://www.busiweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5183&Itemid=66

This past week, the media was awash with Zimbabwe - for the obvious reason the country is falling short of the glory of democratic ideals.

In Dar es Salaam, the East Africa Law Society (EALS) in partnership with the Open Society of Eastern Africa and their Southern Africa counterparts, called for an emergency Pan- African consultative meeting to discuss the crisis.

The meeting attended by over 100 representatives of the legal fraternity and civil society, ended with a calling on the African Union to speak with finality on the on-going crisis, prompted by the failure of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce the results of the elections held a month ago.

Over in NBI, a strong Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) delegation led by its Secretary General, Tendai Biti, met with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. In the discussions, the premier whose party ODM was locked in a bitter feud over election results last December is understood, to have implored heads of African countries to act with speed to stop Zimbabwe from imminent collapse. The Premier gave the assurance that his office would table the issue before Kenya's cabinet for discussions.

And in the troubled Southern Africa country, a recount ordered by ZEC seemed to over-turn results putting Mugabe's party in the lead. This took place despite the opposition's efforts to block the same amid widespread fears that violence would erupt.

Internationally, China came into sharp focus with Beijing accused of propping up an illegitimate regime through a range of activities from diplomatic silence to the provision of arms and ammunition to ZANU PF.

Zimbabwe's neighbors have since declined requests by Chinese authorities to allow the ship access to the dock thus avoiding any would be attempts by the authorities to intimidate Zimbabweans whose populace is estimated at thirteen million. For all purposes, Zimbabwe's crisis came hot on the heels of the recently resolved crisis in Kenya. Based on this experience, the region needs to come out forcefully in seeking for a solution to an end of the saga. This is evident by the two events - MDC's visit by its top brass to Nairobi to seek solace with Kenyan colleagues, and the meeting of the lawyers in Dar. The region is also special taking into consideration the fact that one of its own, President Jakaya Kikwete, is currently chairing the African Union.

EAC needs to make a special appeal to the African Union to act decisively. The above notion is likewise consistent with Article 4 of the African Union Constitutive Act which provides for the "right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly, in respect of grave circumstances", that is war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. There is every indication that the populace of the country could suffer this indignity thus the need for the African Union to protect the Zimbabwean population against the military and paramilitary retribution that communities are currently being subjected to.

The case for Zimbabwe and Kenya present various moral lessons for our region. Collectively, we need to ensure that democracy is seen to prevail. The Partner States also need to take the bold step to review their election manifests, processes and procedures.

In future, the region needs to look into the possibility to having a joint election calendar as it moves towards the integration and strengthening the East African Community political federation.

*The writer comments on socio-economic issues and is based in Arusha

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