Statement Issued By The Southern African Legal Assistance Network On The Current Violence And Electoral Crisis In Zimbabwe: 26 J
Posted June 27th, 2008 by Noma
The Southern African Legal Assistance Network (SALAN) welcomes the stance taken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s call for the postponement of the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off elections scheduled for Friday 27th June 2008, which have been characterized by widespread violence, forcing MDC Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai to announce his withdrawal from the race.
SALAN joins its other human rights organisations in strongly condemning the unacceptable systematic campaign of violence, obstruction and intimidation, led by the Zimbabwean State Agents and ZANU PF of President Mugabe.
We call upon all SADC Head of States in the region to join their Chairperson President Levy Mwanawasa and other leaders who have spoken out in not only condemning the violence but also standing up against President Mugabe’s stance to go ahead with the discredited run off elections. The electoral process is flawed as it is evidenced by reports of illegal arrests, intimidation, harassment and widespread political violence inflicted on the MDC members and supporters. The events are disturbing and in conflict with international electoral standards and conditions for holding of genuinely democratic free and fair elections.
SALAN notes with regret the situation in Zimbabwe is not in accordance with the Zimbabwean law, the SADC principles and African Union regulations on free and fair elections.
SALAN therefore calls upon the SADC, African Union and the United Nations to intervene in the crisis in Zimbabwe and find solutions by:
We remind President Mugabe that Zimbabwean citizens are his masters whom he should respect for having accorded him an opportunity to rule Zimbabwe and not unleash violence on them. SALAN also calls upon South African President Thabo Mbeki, current mediator in the Zimbabwean conflict, to reveal to the region and SADC on the closed door meetings he has been having with President Mugabe. President Mbeki should stop insisting that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe and calling for continued dialogue between President Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. He should instead assist Zimbabwe in finding a lasting solution that will bring an end to the current political conflicts that have rocked that country.
For more information Contact:
Juliet Kaira Chibuta
Coordinator
Southern African Legal Assistance Network (SALAN) Secretariat
6th Floor Woodgate House Box 35162
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel/Fax: 260-211-231845
E-mail: salan@zamnet.zm
Website: www.salan.org
SALAN joins its other human rights organisations in strongly condemning the unacceptable systematic campaign of violence, obstruction and intimidation, led by the Zimbabwean State Agents and ZANU PF of President Mugabe.
We call upon all SADC Head of States in the region to join their Chairperson President Levy Mwanawasa and other leaders who have spoken out in not only condemning the violence but also standing up against President Mugabe’s stance to go ahead with the discredited run off elections. The electoral process is flawed as it is evidenced by reports of illegal arrests, intimidation, harassment and widespread political violence inflicted on the MDC members and supporters. The events are disturbing and in conflict with international electoral standards and conditions for holding of genuinely democratic free and fair elections.
SALAN notes with regret the situation in Zimbabwe is not in accordance with the Zimbabwean law, the SADC principles and African Union regulations on free and fair elections.
SALAN therefore calls upon the SADC, African Union and the United Nations to intervene in the crisis in Zimbabwe and find solutions by:
- Putting pressure on President Mugabe to bring an end to the current human rights violations and humanitarian crisis that have characterized Zimbabwe in order to protect civilians
- Considering that the violence in Zimbabwe does not only affect that country but also poses unacceptable threat to international peace and security and further destabilize the region
- Calling for restoration of the humanitarian aid flow and urgent increase of humanitarian assistance
- Pressurizing for appropriate, peaceful and transparent electoral conditions that allows the citizens of Zimbabwe to express freely their political will to take place
- Helping Zimbabwe in achieving long lasting peace and return to democracy.
We remind President Mugabe that Zimbabwean citizens are his masters whom he should respect for having accorded him an opportunity to rule Zimbabwe and not unleash violence on them. SALAN also calls upon South African President Thabo Mbeki, current mediator in the Zimbabwean conflict, to reveal to the region and SADC on the closed door meetings he has been having with President Mugabe. President Mbeki should stop insisting that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe and calling for continued dialogue between President Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. He should instead assist Zimbabwe in finding a lasting solution that will bring an end to the current political conflicts that have rocked that country.
For more information Contact:
Juliet Kaira Chibuta
Coordinator
Southern African Legal Assistance Network (SALAN) Secretariat
6th Floor Woodgate House Box 35162
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel/Fax: 260-211-231845
E-mail: salan@zamnet.zm
Website: www.salan.org