Civil society organisations met with the SADC Chairperson and President of Namibia, Hage Geingob to present their call for Zimbabwe to promote, consolidate and maintain democracy, peace and security.
The National Board Chairperson of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), Wadzanai Vere, was part of the delegation that was led by Rashid Mahiya, the Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and Director of Heal Zimbabwe. The delegation comprised of Okay Machisa, Reverend Useni Sibanda, directors ofZimbabwe Human Rights Association and Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, respectively, and Blessing Vava the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Director.
The meeting with the SADC Chairperson builds up on the NANGO Green Paper Series that documented engagements between civil society and political party leaders, independent commissions and independent election candidates. The engagements which started before elections were aimed at inculcating sustainable peace beyond the election season. The continued engagement with government went further to include SADC in discussing the emergency of protecting citizens’ socio-economic and political rights.
Rashid Mahiya, the Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, in his presentation stated that Zimbabwe has not fully implemented the 2013 Constitution. The implementation of the constitution has been slow and there is limited movement in repealing repressive legislation which is in conflict with the constitution. Society continues to call for security sector and media reforms and the non-implementation of recommendations by the SADC Election Observer Mission to facilitate for diaspora voting.
“There is a perpetual economic meltdown which has resulted in high levels of inflation and an increase in domestic debt which has compromised the government’s capacity for the provision of social services. If left unresolved this has economic, social and security effects at a regional level. We however acknowledge efforts at attracting foreign and local investments” Mahiya said.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson added that “The Zimbabwean society is heavily divided and polarised and there is huge trust deficit characterised by a perpetuation of political polarisation in post-election period”.
Mahiya also spoke about military involvement in civilian processes and gave an example of the events of August 01, 2018 in which the military shot seven unarmed civilians in the full glare of both regional and international media. He also said the media particularly the state-controlled media continues to be partial perpetuating divisions in society.
Lastly, he asserted that while Zimbabwe is a signatory to both the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and the African Charter on Democracy and Elections, there is limited movement in domesticating and implementing these protocols and that there are fears the next elections will be held under undemocratic conditions if this is not addressed.
The delegation proposed interventions which should be understood in the context of the ongoing political and economic crisis bedevilling the country.
1) That SADC should consider supporting an internal and inclusive stakeholders’ dialogue in Zimbabwe. It is our conviction that the dialogue process must involve all stakeholders and a national visioning process that has civil society, government, political parties, business, religious groups and labour unions among other critical stakeholders on board. The national dialogue should seek to realise the foundational values and vision of SADC in creating a Common Future, a future within a regional community that will ensure economic well-being, improvement of the standards of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice and peace and security for the people of Southern Africa.
2) SADC should promote and support efforts at arresting the economic downturn in Zimbabwe and encourage Zimbabwe to adopt and implement pro-poor inclusive economic development policies. Efforts at economic transformation, stabilisation and growth should meet the expectations of the SADC objective of achieving sustained ‘Economic Growth and Sustainable Development so that people in the region have better living standards and employment opportunities.’
3) SADC in its endeavour to promote democratic principles in the region, should encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold and guarantee citizens’ rights as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution and other regional and international human rights treaties and statutes. SADC should encourage Zimbabwe to fulfil its obligations as spelt out in the SADC Treaty which designates “solidarity, peace and security; respect for human rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and peaceful settlement of disputes” as its founding principles.
4) The SADC community in line with its objective of ensuring a democratic ad economically developed region should institute discussions on the situation in Zimbabwe and develop a political and economic rescue package that is predicated on democratic progress.
The delegation met at the backdrop of post-election violence, foreign currency shortage, cholera outbreak, shortage of drugs and basic commodities. These and other issues will be further deliberated at the NGO Directors Summer School the will be held in Bulawayo on 15 and 16 November 2018.
NANGO is a non-party political, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational official coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. It is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe. NANGO also coordinates various civil society responses to emerging issues in Zimbabwe.
