South Africa Trade Mark Acts

Zimbabwe: South African civil society statement on the Global ...

The coalition government of Zimbabwe must urgently institute reforms and ensure human rights respect

We the undersigned South African Civil Society participants and the Zimbabwean Diaspora attending the above-mentioned event wish to highlight civil society’s grave concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of fundamental democracy and human rights reforms outlined in the Global Political Agreement guaranteed by SADC. We are concerned that the SADC mediation process has made little difference in the peace talks between the ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations in the quest to find a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean crisis.

We are disturbed about, and condemn unreseverdly, the unacceptable use of torture and excessive human rights abuses by the state and its security apparatus in the context of calls for elections. Freedom of expression and open parliamentary processes and civil society activities remain threatened by increasing levels of violence and sporadic arrests of human rights defenders. The severity of the political crisis in Zimbabwe has reached unacceptable levels which require urgent corrective action by the government of Zimbabwe.

Impunity and absolute lack of accountability is indicative of the breakdown of the rule of law in Zimbabwe which contribute negatively to participatory processes that work towards instilling a culture of human rights, democracy and good governance.

We urge the government of Zimbabwe to fast track human rights progress in Zimbabwe and to act urgently on the following:

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