Declaration of the Johannesburg Symposium
Preamble
Mindful that a political solution is urgently required to overcome the crisis in Zimbabwe, and in the understanding that there is or may soon be dialogue between the major political parties in Zimbabwe, a number of Zimbabwean civic leaders convened a symposium to enable civic society leaders to have a forum at which to discuss issues of human rights and justice in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean participants resolved to make representations to the negotiating political parties with recommendations on issues of human rights and justice that they desire should form part of any political settlement reached by the political parties.
The recommendations are as follows:
1 That human rights abuses of the past – both during the colonial and post-colonial eras– must be redressed.
2 That mechanisms be put in place to guarantee that human rights abuses never again occur in Zimbabwe;
3 That blanket amnesties for human rights abusers should not be allowed; and specifically that there should be no further general amnesty for human rights abusers;
4 That the necessary institutions be set up to deal with past and present human rights abuses, and that such institutions be empowered not only to investigate and seek the truth, but also to recommend criminal prosecution, provide for redress and reparations for victims, and lead to healing of the nation. Such institutions must encourage and sensitively deal with the special needs of victims. This is particularly important in dealing with women and children as victims.
5 That the Constitution guarantees future respect for human rights and sets up a justice system and other institutions to give effect to such guarantee;
6 That the government must enable Zimbabweans to take advantage of the protection and remedies offered by international human rights instruments;
7 That there should be an investigation into corruption and asset stripping, and the repossession of all assets misappropriated from state and private enterprise, or acquired through corruption and other illegal means.
In the short term, we make the following demands on the Zimbabwean Government:
1 That there be an immediate end to political violence and intimidation, an immediate disbanding of the militia, and an immediate return to non-partisan police, army and intelligence services and non-selective application of the law;
2 That there be an immediate repeal of all repressive legislation and unjust laws such as the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Broadcasting Services Act and charges brought before the repeal of these laws should be withdrawn and sentences previously imposed be annulled;
3 That there be an immediate opening up of political space, including the immediate and complete overhaul of electoral laws and institutions to enable all elections to be held under free and fair conditions;
4 That the economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe must be immediately addressed.
We also call upon the United Nations to immediately send a Special Rapporteur to Zimbabwe to assess the human rights environment.
We also call upon the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights to immediately release the report of the findings of its mission to Zimbabwe.
13 August 2003