Cry my Zimbabwe

Our governments in Africa have failed us, and they will prove their failure further on Zimbabwe. In this case I see the citizens and civil society as the only hope.

Civil society organisations in Zimbabwe represented by a Working Group composed of thirteen umbrella organisations from all sectors met on 6 April to map out a strategy for civil society to respond to the ongoing election challenges. The meeting raised concerns over the incomprehensible explanations about the delay in announcing the results and perceived these explanations as intolerable, insofar as they have precipitated socio-economic paralysis. The organisations therefore unequivocally reiterated the demand for the immediate release of the presidential election results and for tangible displays of commitment by the ruling elites to respect the will of the people.

It is worrisome that ZANU-PF as an interested party continues to unduly interfere with the timely release of the results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC]. The call for the ZEC to assert itself as an independent and impartial election management body was therefore re-emphasised.

Noting that the ongoing anxiety and uncertainty around election results is a breeding ground for civil unrest, Civil Society has launched a massive national campaign to call for peace and respect for the voices of the people. Communities from all over the country will from now on be encouraged to converge in their local areas to conduct different non violent social actions such as marches, prayer meetings and public meetings. The colour white will be used as a show of support for the campaign and citizens are encouraged to wear white ribbons, scarves and apparel as a sign of support for peace in Zimbabwe.

The 18th of April being Zimbabwe’s Day of Independence from colonial rule, has also been identified as an opportunity for all Zimbabweans to collectively speak out in support of peace, fundamental freedoms and respect for the people’s will.

In the event of a Presidential election run off Civil Society has put in place mechanisms for a coordinated and grassroots based civic campaign to make the peoples’ votes larger, to make the peoples’ votes count and to make the peoples’ votes last.

This intended action has gone beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. Across countries in Southern Africa, civil society are in advanced stage of planning to act; yes going beyond prayers they have been offering in order to make Bob Mugabe understand peace and sanity. For example in Malawi there will be a demonstration at the Zimbabwe High Commission on the delay of the Pres results, and intimidation taking place.

The situation in Zimbabwe has already impacted on the SADC. What picture is Mugabe giving, why should we have elections and when we loose we don’t want to admit defeat, this is very bad for Africa because all other leaders can follow Bob's way. If Bob can manage his way out why not the Levi Mwanawasa’s (Zambia), Bingu Wa Mutharika’s (Malawi), Jakaya's, Gebuza's (Mozambique) and others. Kibaki (Kenya) already managed to manipulate the results and Africa is setting a bad trend, bad for democracy
As young leaders we cannot just leave this go untapped – but we do not have a member in Zimbabwe.