OneWorld.net (U.S.)

Africans Ashamed at Zimbabwe Decline and Call for Greater Action

May 13th, 2008 - Members of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) alliance throughout Africa have come out strongly against the lack of democracy and rampant abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe since the undeclared elections on March 29th. The alliance holds that African leaders need to raise their voices in condemnation of the shocking decline of democracy and mounting poverty levels in Zimbabwe and that the outside world must echo that pressure.

GCAP Zimbabwe members are concerned about the actions of the ruling Zanu-PF. There have been consistent and highly disturbing accounts of political violence around the country, particularly in rural communities, against supporters of the opposition. A number of human rights campaigners have also been harassed and detained by the authorities due solely to their legitimate and peaceful work around the elections.

"What is happening in Zimbabwe is a shame for us as Africans. It clearly demonstrates that there is a long way to go before the will and needs of the people are respected. It is a violation of human rights. We demand that President Mugabe respects the will of his people and avoids unexpected violence, which merely increases the rampant poverty in which most Zimbabweans are living," said Christophe Zoungrana, Coordinator of GCAP Africa based in Senegal.

Zimbabwean civil society organisations have so far responded to these challenges by mounting the Make our Votes Count Campaign a mass grassroots initiative to mobilize people in non-violent social actions to reclaim their votes and demand constitutional reform and peace. The colour white is being used to show support for the campaign.

"The elections never belonged to the people of Zimbabwe. Rather they were meant for other purposes related to the interests of the ruling elites. That is to maintain the status quo an intricate, social, economic and political system based on patronage that has created a ruling elite class of overlords that exists in remarkable opulence whilst the country's vast majority continues to slide ever deeper into abject poverty and want," said Fambai Ngirande from GCAP Zimbabwe and the National Association of NGOs.

GCAP Africa is calling specifically for

1) a regional plan of action from the SADC Parliamentary Forum among others following the abject failure of the mediation process led by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.

2) the Zimbabwean question to be on the agenda of every critical development forum around the world as a means of building solidarity and support for the people of Zimbabwe

3) UN intervention to avert the further deterioration of the Zimbabwean situation, as well as the presence of UN observers during the Presidential Runoff.

4) technical and resource support for grassroots organizations who are currently taking part in several non violent actions to put pressure on the ruling elites to respect the will of the people of Zimbabwe

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NANGO is a non-party political, non-profit making and non-denominational coordinating body of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Zimbabwe. NANGO leads the GCAP coalition in Zimbabwe. The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is the world's largest civil society alliance of social movements, International NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women's organizations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world's leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of; public accountability, just governance and the fulfillment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation and gender equality and women's rights. For more information on GCAP, see www.whiteband.org.