Pambazuka News is produced by a pan-African community of some 2,600 citizens and organisations - academics, policy makers, social activists, women's organisations, civil society organisations, writers, artists, poets, bloggers, and commentators who together produce insightful, sharp and thoughtful analyses and make it one of the largest and most innovative and influential web forums for social justice in Africa. 
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The case for opening SADC borders
Mandisi Majavu
2011-07-27, Issue 542
cc futureatlas.com‘South Africa became the regional economic powerhouse that it is today partly on the backs of immigrant labourers from the SADC who helped build the country’s economy. Is it unreasonable for people to want to share in the fruits of what they helped create?’ asks Mandisi Majavu.
Statement on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
2010-02-11, Issue 469
cc WikimediaThe Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has issued a statement in response to the first anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
The statement highlights the increasing concern in Zimbabwe over the GNU’s ‘failure to abide by the provisions of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and its apparent inability to address the social, political and economic crisis still facing the country.’ The statement also criticises the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) inability to influence the GNU to deliver on its promises and commitments.
Zimbabwe ratifies SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
Rozaria Memorial Trust
2009-11-19, Issue 458
cc SokwaneleZimbabwe has ratified the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development, a regional instrument for advancing gender equality and women's rights. It is the second country after Namibia to ratify the protocol.
Zimbabwe needs a political settlement
Mpho Ncube
2008-07-09, Issue 387
It is common knowledge that the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) party won the parliamentary and presidential elections earlier this year. Based on its performance, it would therefore be fair to say that the MDC would probably have also won last week’s presidential run-off had it not pulled out at the last moment. Yet, despite these facts, Zanu-PF still remains in power today. Robert Mugabe has once again outmaneuvered his opponents in Zimbabwe and abroad, writes Mpho Ncube.
Kenya and Zimbabwe: Challenges and opportunities
Briggs Bomba
2008-07-09, Issue 387
The world’s attention has been riveted in 2008, by election crises in Africa, first Kenya, and now Zimbabwe. In both cases, challenges remain in converting electoral victory to political power. Can a victorious opposition come to power in the face of an obstinate incumbent? This question is particularly relevant when the incumbent regime controls the coercive apparatus of the state and the opposition only has the ballot in its corner. In the battle of the ballot vs. the bullet, can there ever be a fair match, asks Briggs Bomba.
Shattered Myths: The xenophobic violence in South Africa
Nathan Geffen
2008-07-03, Issue 385
On Thursday 22 May, Cape Town changed forever. The xenophobic violence that started 1,200 kilometres away in Gauteng spread to Du Noon township. On Friday the TAC offices began to get reports of violence on trains and Somali shops being looted. The details were scanty, but by Friday evening the consequences became visible even in the affluent city centre. About 150 people sought refuge outside Caledon Square, the city's main police station. Hundreds more gathered at the central train station so they could catch a train to Johannesburg in the morning and then leave the country.
Zimbabwe: hunger, terror, displacement and death
Mary Ndlovu
2008-06-26, Issue 384
Since March, Zimbabwe has had no Parliament, no local government councils, no legitimate executive, and ZANU PF has ruled by decree in response to the orders of the JOC – acronym for the military junta which now controls the nation, along with Mr. Mugabe and Reserve Bank Governor Mr. Gono, who is needed to print money, writes Mary Ndlovu. SADC governments allowed the charade to continue, talked to and dealt with the illegitimate government as if nothing was wrong. If SADC fails in its self-assigned disaster management, if the AU is unable or unwilling to step into the breach - hunger, terror, displacement, and death stare Zimbabweans in the face.
What next for Zimbabwe?
Janah Ncube
2008-06-25, Issue 384
SADC and other African countries need to recognise that the fate of Zimbabwe is in their hands. We are not seeking the west to rescue our country, we are calling on our brothers and sisters to help us at our most dire need. The Heads of State in the SADC region now need to stand with the people of Zimbabwe and not its political leaders, writes Janah Ncube.
Statement: The people of Zimbabwe must take the lead!
South African Communist Party
2008-06-25, Issue 384
The SACP is extremely concerned at, and disturbed by, the latest developments in Zimbabwe, including the increase in violence directed at opposition members and supporters, the arbitrary arrest of opposition leaders, the trade union movement, and other sections of civil society, now culminating in the withdrawal of the MDC from the Presidential run-off.
Zimbabwe: Memo to African Leaders
African civil societies
2008-06-23, Issue 383
Although SADC must be commended for its attempts so far to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe, its effort has not been repaid. The ruling party is effectively refusing to subject itself to a democratic contest, and waging a violent conflict against its citizens, aggravating a humanitarian crisis. As such it has lost legitimacy, triggering a necessary shift in Africa’s stance. Under the Constitutive Act of the African Union, member states are enjoined to “promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights” and the African Union has an obligation “to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.” There is extensive documentation in Zimbabwe today of torture and killing of named individuals by agents of the ruling party and government who have been described and/or identified. African Union engagement, particularly by the Peace and Security Council, is fully mandated by conditions on the ground and is urgently needed.
Zimbabwe: Stop the run-off
Feminist Political Education Project
2008-06-18, Issue 382
The Feminist Political Education Project (FePEP) calls upon all political leaders to stop the 27th of June 2008 Presidential election run-off.
Death Spiral in Zimbabwe: Mediation, violence and the GNU
Grace Kwinjeh
2008-06-19, Issue 382
Rather than deflect and defeat the likelihood of political violence, the construct of a Government of National Unity would formally integrate it into the lifeblood of the Zimbabwean democratic dispensation. For South Africans, this situation recalls the kind of power sharing arrangements that former South African President F W De Klerk had in mind at the start of the 1990s negotiation process, where the share of actual voter support would not determine power arrangements. This proposal was not acceptable in the new South Africa then, and it is not acceptable in the new Zimbabwe now, writes Grace Kwinjeh examining the upcoming Zimbabwe presidential elections rerun.
Why South Africa will never be like Zimbabwe
Jeremy Cronin
2008-05-05, Issue 368
In this Chris Hani Memorial Lecture, Jeremy Cronin traces the differences between the ANC and Zanu-PF as liberation movements and as parties in power. He argues that while Zanu-PF succeeded in demobilising a militant population the ANC did not, and as a result the ANC is being held in check by the people of South Africa.
Church leaders condemn state violence in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Church Leaders
2008-04-24, Issue 365
As the shepherds of the people, we, Church leaders of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), express our deep concern over the deteriorating political, security, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe following the March 29, 2008 national elections
COSATU declares the Mugabe government illegitimate
Congress of South African Trade Union
2008-04-23, Issue 365
The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the statement by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman that the China Ocean Shipping Company which owns the An Yue Jiang, has decided to recall the ship because Zimbabwe cannot take delivery of the 77 tonnes of weapons and ammunition onboard.
Zimbabwe: Violent assault and torture continue unchecked
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights
2008-04-23, Issue 365
Further to the two statements ZADHR issued last week we report a further 81 cases of organised violence and torture which have been seen and treated by members of the Association in the three days ending Monday 21 April 2008. This is not a cumulative total – this is the number of cases seen in these 3 days alone. The total number of cases seen since 1 April 2008 is 323.
Mugabe’s post election actions a de facto coup d’etat
Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations
2008-04-24, Issue 365
The Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations, supports the efforts of its colleagues in the Lwas Society of East Africa when it hosted an emergency consultation on ‘Africa Taking the Initiative on the Zimbabwe Election Crisis’ held in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on 21st April. The meeting brought together the finest African minds from over 100 civic and legal organisations from all over the continent.
African voices on AFRICOM
Africa Action
2008-04-01, Issue 363
This Africa Action resource provides examples of statements from African leaders from multiple regions who stand opposed to AFRICOM."The stand that many African countries have taken against the military command is one that needs to be supported and needs to be explained to the U.S...
Zimbabwe: Right to know violated
Article 19
2008-04-15, Issue 363
It’s been more than two weeks since Zimbabweans went to the polls to elect a legislature and President. But instead of the outcome of the elections, Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party led by President Robert Mugabe has delivered harsh crackdowns and stonewalling to the electorate....
Zimbabwe Global Forum condemns handling of elections
Zimbabwe Global Forum
2008-04-08, Issue 360
Statement of the GZF on the situation in Zimbabwe, issued after the Global Teleconference by all the regions present. Zimbabwe Global Forum (GFZ) condemns the actions by the Government of Zimbabwe for thas well as the results
Urgent petition to SADC heads of state - Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Civil Society Organizations
2008-04-03, Issue 359
Inordinate delay in announcing results is of grave concern to civil society:
We the undersigned Civil Society groups whose names are listed below have found it necessary to send this urgent petition to your Excellences in order to save our country from potentially sinking into complete anarchy if election results are manipulated.
Kenyans call and solidarity with Zimbabwe
Kenyans For Peace With Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and the National Civil Society Congress (NCSC)
2008-04-04, Issue 359
Kenyan's call and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe during this difficult moment in their history.
The People of Kenya, individually and through various civil society organizations grouped under the National Civil society Congress and Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ), are deeply concerned by the
MISA-Zimbabwe on SADC observers
MISA-Zimbabwe
2008-04-01, Issue 358
The SADC Observer Mission to the 2008 elections noted several anomalies that run against the grain of the principles of democratic elections within the southern African region but still endorsed the process leading to the 29 March elections as free and fair....
Zimbabwe: call to action
2008-04-01, Issue 358
International development agencies, Progressio, Trócaire, Tearfund and FEPA today call for immediate action to stop what appears to impartial observers as government-led election rigging of Zimbabwe’s March 29th polls. ...
The SADC facilitation and the Zimbabwe crisis
Brian Raftopoulos
2008-03-24, Issue 356
Brian Raftopoulos argues that the SADC mediated talks between ZANU-PF and MDC were undermined by the unwillingness of Zanu PF to allow for a significant opening up of political spaces in the country. He further argues that SADC's endorsement of an outcome that did not take broad democratic principles into account was in effect an endorsement of Mugabe
Prospects from a flawed election
New report on Zimbabwe
International Crisis Group
2008-03-20, Issue 356
ICG warns that the international community needs to have contingency plans ready in anticipation of rigged elections in Zimbabwe on 29 March that could precipitate a potentially violent crisis
Voter intimidation by Zimbabwe National Army deplorable
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
2008-03-11, Issue 352
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) deplores new public statements by the commander of a state institution which ostensibly exists to impartially protect the safety and integrity of all people of Zimbabwe, regardless of their political persuasion. This comes in the light of the intemperate and unlawful utterances made by the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Constantine Chiwenga, which were published in The Standard on 9 March 2008....
Putting the teeth back in the SADC Gender Protocol
Pamela Mhlanga
2007-11-29, Issue 330
The journey just got tougher for civil society activists who have been spearheading efforts to ensure that Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments are legally bound to achieve gender equality, writes Pamela Mhlanga