Swazi Civil Society Statement

Swazi Civil Society Urges SADC Peace and Security Troika to Robustly Defend Democracy, Peace and Justice in Zimbabwe.

Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations welcomes the timely intervention of His Majesty King Mswati III in hosting and facilitating the Southern African Development Community’s Peace and Security Troika in what we feel to be SADC’s most challenging political hour. The time for strong leadership has arrived and we hope that SADC will not be found wanting yet again.

As the crisis in Zimbabwe moves from the economic to the political and from the national to the regional levels the situation now threatens to engulf all of SADC. The 86 confirmed deaths of MDC supporters and activists and the over 1000 confirmed hospitalisations are but the tip of the iceberg of horror that is being repeatedly confirmed by multiple independent and respected sources. We concur with the statement of the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions when they call the 27 June charade (we cannot call it an election) a declaration of war on the proud people of Zimbabwe by ZANU-PF, their henchmen aided and abetted by the state security forces.

At the heart of democracy is that the will of the people be freely expressed. Should they call for a change of government then that decision must be respected and the handover peaceful.

Swazi Civil Society notes Robert Mugabe’s, his party’s and supporters’ actions show that he and they have become divorced from the not only the will of the people but from reality itself.

• Statements that only God can remove him now and asking how can a simple cross on a piece of paper take away the power of the gun show the extent of his distance from democracy.
• People are being forced to attend political rallies failure of which they are being beaten up;
• Deployment and sprouting of several bases led by the ruling party militia that are harassing and perpetrating violence;
• The usual polling officers, that is teachers and other civil servants, have been sidelined in the running of elections in favour of ruling party supporters;
• Thousands of people have been displaced through political violence and thereby unable to vote;

We urge SADC to reaffirm the primacy of the ballot box as the only method of selection of governments. We also urge the Troika to consider Section 30 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union states that “Governments which shall come to power through unconstitutional means shall not be allowed to participate in the activities of the Union.” It is clear that Mugabe and his supporters’ actions have violated the Act and the constitution and he is no longer the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.

The real lesson of the Kenyan elections is that those who are prepared to use militias, violence, and the threat of violence to back up their political positions will be able to circumvent democracy and will receive international support in doing so in the name of ‘peace’ and political expediency. Mugabe has learned this lesson well. Temporary peace founded without a base of justice and democracy can only ever be at best a stop-gap to allow these foundations to be put in place.

Swazi Civil Society is extremely worried that these politically expedient moves are fundamentally undermining the nature of elections and democracy on the continent and setting the precedent for all governments that power lies not with the people but with leaders backed by armed militias.

Swazi Civil Society calls on the SADC Peace and Security Council Troika to do the following.

• Not to recognise the Zimbabwean Election Commission’s declaration of Mugabe as president after 29 June as being valid or constitutional.

• Set up a “Civilian Protection Force” made up of representatives from SADC and the AU and wider that will immediately restore order and the rule of law to all areas of Zimbabwe. The internal security forces of the Zimbabwe are politicised and compromised in terms of previous actions and the trust of the people and cannot be a legitimate force for peace.
• Institute an inclusive mediation process that will set up the means to free, fair and peaceful elections. We respect the efforts of President Mbeki but it is obvious that it is time for someone who has more distance from the parties to act as the mediator. The elections should ideally be held before the end of the year.
• To put in place an interim authority that will reflect the will of the people as expressed in the poll of 29 March to oversee the running of the country in the meantime and the regularization of the economy.
• That a process of atonement that fully respects the rights of victims of politically instituted violence and repression be instituted.

STATEMENT ENDS

Background Note - SWAZILAND COALITION OF CONCERNED CIVIC ORGANISATIONS is a non partisan civil society body that represents the main groupings and organisations in Swaziland. It consists of organisations that represent the Trade Unions, Employers, Churches, Media, NGOs Lawyers, Women and Youth Groups.

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