Upon a critical review of the political crises emanating from the inordinate delay in the release of the results of March 29th, 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe, we the representatives of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), West African Bar Association (WABA) and the West African Human Rights Forum (WAHRF) in partnership with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) wish to observe the following:
1. For some time now, Zimbabwe has been embroiled in serious socio-economic and political crises, which have been compounded by the refusal of President Robert Mugabe to relinquish power.
2. The independence of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (ZEC) has been compromised by the unwholesome interference of government in its statutory functions.
3. The political climate has been charged and made unsuitable for popular participation in governance and development.
We hereby make the following declarations:
1. Demand for the immediate release of the results of the elections as held on 29th March 2008.
2. Urge the winner of the elections to form a government that expresses the will of the people.
3. Call on the government of Zimbabwe to stop State-sponsored hostilities against the people and the human rights community.
4. Demand the release of all those who have been arrested in the wake of post-election demonstrations.
5. Commend the Workers’ Unions in the Southern African region for their steadfastness in disallowing the importation of arms and ammunitions into Zimbabwe.
6. Commend the maturity of the people of Zimbabwe in ensuring that the situation has not degenerated into violent conflicts.
7. Call on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union to rise up and condemn the subversion of democracy and the rule of law by President Robert Mugabe.
8. Call on the peoples of West Africa to identify and stand with the people of Zimbabwe in defense of their democratic rights.
We have thus commenced a programme of activities to sensitize and mobilize popular support of West Africans to intervene constructively in establishing democracy in Zimbabwe.
