SADC media practitioners Statement on the Situation in Zimbabwe - Johannesburg 9 April 2008

We the undersigned SADC media practitioners and international partners meeting in Johannesburg note with the gravest concern the unacceptable delay in the release of Presidential results in Zimbabwe. We also express concern and condemnation of the arrest of journalists, harassment and violence being orchestrated by war veterans, ZANU- PF allied militias and security agents on the citizens of Zimbabwe.

The delay in the release of Presidential election results far exceeds acceptable time limits in which results should be published to maintain the sanctity of an election process.  We note that there can be no legitimate reason to withhold the results that the Zimbabwean nation awaits so anxiously.  And in view of this, we express concern that this delay contributes to creating an atmosphere of distrust, suspicion and instability. In the same vein, we condemn the arrest and continued harassment of journalists covering the events in Zimbabwe. We further condemn in the strongest terms the violence against citizens being perpetrated by the police, military and militias aligned to ZANU-PF party.

We, therefore, call upon the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to release the results of this election without further delay. This would put an end to corrosive speculation and increasing anxiety that threatens the peace and stability of Zimbabwe and the SADC Region.  We further call upon ZANU-PF and security arms of state in Zimbabwe to stop forthwith the violence against rural and urban communities.

We call upon ZANU-PF and the police to disband the militias made up of war veterans and ruling party youths. There can be no credible reason for the existence of such non state formations and this raises the fear that the former ruling party, ZANU- PF orchestrating, violence against innocent citizens, and by its own admission preparing for a presidential run off of an election whose result remain unknown.   

The reports of violence in urban and rural areas as well as confirmed reports of a new wave of farm invasions represents a grave threat to the stability of Zimbabwe and democratic practice in that country. 

In view of these developments we the undersigned call upon:

• the SADC Executive Secretary and Chairperson, the Africa Union and the United Nations through its relevant channels to respond immediately to the unfolding political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.
• the SADC Executive Secretary and Africa Union to request the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release the results of the Presidential election without any further delay.
• Zimbabwe's security agents that to remain impartial and ensure a peaceful environment, free from violence and political intimidation to enable the staging of a
• Presidential election run off, should this be necessary.
• Release and drop all charges against arrested journalists and media workers. And allow an environment in which local and foreign media can cover events without restrictions, intimidation or fear of arrest.
• That the conduct of a Presidential run off, if necessary, be carried out in a fair and transparent manner and that the results are released as soon as possible.

We expect that all Zimbabweans accept the results of such an election

Signed:
Development Workshop- Fabrice Beutler- Angola
Digital Media Africa Foundation - South Africa
MISA-Swaziland- Comfort Mabuza - Swaziland
MISA-Mozambique- Alfredo Libombo- Mozambique
MISA-Zimbabwe- Rashweat Mukundu - Zimbabwe
Southern Africa Media and Gender Institute (SAMGI) - Judith Smith- South Africa
Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe- Andrew Moyse- Zimbabwe
Gender and Media Southern Africa- Charles Chisala- South Africa
Journaliste en Danger- Donat M' BAYA- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Freedom of Expression Institute - Jane Duncan- South Africa
Media Alliance of Zimbabwe- Abigail Gamanya- Zimbabwe
Africa Community Publishing Development Trust- Cathy Bond Stewart-Zimbabwe
Africa Community Publishing Development Trust- Talent Nyathi- Zimbabwe
The Worker- Bright Chibvuri-Zimbabwe
SAIMED- Jacqueline Kabeta- Botswana 
Anthea Garman - South Africa
Johanne Mavhungo- South Africa
Michael Jimmy- Namibia
Bob Van Der Winden- Netherlands 
Zambezi Fox- Jeannete Minnie
Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa- Netherlands
Gisela Dutting- Netherlands