Features

November 4, 2008

Zimbabwe: Call for justice and meeting basic needs

ICTJ, the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation have issued a statement calling for the summit of the Southern African Development Conference both to press for formation of a new government and to address Zimbabweans urgent needs for food, water, medical treatment, access to education and other basic services. The statement also called for judicial authorities there to rule promptly on the continued detention of leaders of the group Women of Zimbabwe Arise, who were subsequently released on November 5.

The full statement follows.

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ICTJ, the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) extend our support to the women of Zimbabwe regarding the failure to conclude the talks aimed at resolving Zimbabwe’s current political, economic and humanitarian crisis. 

Two leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) remain in remand prison following their arrest on 16 October for participating in a demonstration demanding action on food distribution to the starving and progress on the negotiations for a power-sharing government.  It took ten days after their arrest for a bail ruling. The reason given for finally denying bail was that demonstrations are likely to lead to public violence in the tense political environment. In the course of numerous WOZA demonstrations in the past five years, none has led to any public violence. 

We support WOZA’s protest against the denial of the right to freedom of expression and assembly, and the denial of the presumption of innocence, which the refusal of bail implies.  The defense had filed an appeal with the High Court, and the state was given 48 hours to respond.  But up to now no ruling has been made.

We also support the statement made by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, who note with deep regret that, despite the political parties (ZANU PF, and the two MDC formations) signing a political settlement for the establishment of an Inclusive Government at the Rainbow Towers on 15 September 2008, to date no Cabinet has been formed; Zimbabwe has operated without a Government since March 2008. 

The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe notes that this political impasse has resulted in continued and increased suffering of the people of Zimbabwe, especially women and children. The suffering includes the following:

• Famine, which impacts heavily on women and children, as people resort to eating wild fruit (hacha) and rats for survival.
• A collapsed health sector characterized by shortage of drugs, shortage of health personnel and breakdown of equipment.
• A crumbling economy characterized by cash shortages resulting in unending queues, hyper inflation that is now the highest in the world, high taxation for workers, dollarization of the economy with the majority of the workforce still earning their salaries in local currency.
• An ailing education system characterized by continued job action by teachers due to poor remuneration, lack of supplies including stationary and food, delays and  uncertainty in the writing of exams.
• A breakdown of basic services such as electricity and water, with water shortages causing a health crisis that includes cholera deaths.
• Women and girls suffered grave violence during the election period, violence that has continued and extended to family and community levels due to impunity.

 

In addition, the continued delay in the conclusion of the talks has only served to exacerbate the suffering of women and children in the country.

We support the demands by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, which include the following:

1. That the political party principals put the interests and concerns of the people of Zimbabwe first.
2. That the political party principals negotiate and conclude the talks in good faith.
3. That an inclusive government be in place to tackle the urgent challenges the country is facing, in accordance with the Agreement.
4. That the inclusive gvernment be constituted by a fair representation of women within the spirit of the Government of National Unity Deal, SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and other regional and international instruments.
   

 

ICTJ, CSVR and IJR therefore reiterate the calls by Zimbabwean women that the Southern African Development Community summit move beyond merely solving the disagreement over ministerial posts but that all regional heads of state ensure that the rights to survival of all Zimbabwean people are protected by addressing the urgent issues related to food, water, medical treatment, access to education and other basic needs.