Africa Stand up for Zimbabwe

(CIVICUS)--We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe who continue to suffer severe violations of their human rights.

We recognise that attempts are being made by Zimbabwean political parties, the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to address the political and economic situation. However, we are deeply concerned about the continuation of torture and other ill-treatment, and harassment and intimidation of political and human rights activists, even since the signing of the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ by political parties on 21 July.

We are also concerned that important questions of justice and impunity were not explicitly tackled in the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ suggesting that these issues will not be dealt with in the talks between the political parties.

We add our voices to the increasing number of civic and political leaders, activists and ordinary citizens in condemning the events in Zimbabwe which have brought untold suffering to its people. The ongoing political violence, suppression of fundamental human rights and the failure of governance which has directly contributed to the impoverishment of the people of Zimbabwe must be addressed now.

The present government has brutally suppressed democratic dissent and persecuted political and human rights activists in callous disregard of the rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

We believe that the people and civil society of Zimbabwe must have the full support of the international community, in particular from African countries.

To this end, we call upon:

(i) African leaders at all levels – pan-African, regional and national – and their institutions to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately end serious human rights violations in the country and publicly denounce and call for the cessation of all political violence.

(ii) The African Union, in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community, to take all necessary steps to address the human rights situation in Zimbabwe including by calling on Zimbabwe to allow the deployment of independent human rights monitors and to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the political violence.

(iii) The AU and SADC to urge the political leadership in Zimbabwe to seek a solution to the current political crisis in an inclusive process that embraces civil society and in a spirit of reconciliation and dialogue. Nevertheless, no amnesties, pardons and similar measures should be granted that would prevent the emergence of the truth, a final judicial determination of guilt or non-guilt, and full reparations to victims and their families.

iv) The AU and SADC to call on the Government of Zimbabwe to repeal restrictive legislation and practical impediments upon the functioning of the independent media that prevent people from exercising their right to freedom of expression, including accessing information. All restrictions which unduly constrain the activities and expression of independent civil society in Zimbabwe must also be withdrawn without delay.

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