Open letter: Africa stand up for Zimbabwe

We, the undersigned, stand as Africans, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe who continue to suffer severe violations of their human and democratic rights. 

We add our voices to the increasing number of civic and political leaders in condemning the events in Zimbabwe which have brought untold suffering to its people. The ongoing political violence, suppression of democratic freedoms and failure of governance which have directly contributed to the impoverishment of the people of Zimbabwe, cannot be ignored any longer.

Moreover, the presidential election run-off on 27 June held against a backdrop of widespread killings, torture and intimidation of perceived opposition supporters cannot be viewed as legitimate. The present regime has brutally throttled democratic dissent and persecuted political and human rights activists, many of whom languish in prison, in callous disregard of the principles enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

We believe that the people and civil society of Zimbabwe must have the full support of the international community, in particular from African countries.

To this end, we call for:

(i) The African Union, in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community, to take all necessary steps to ease the situation in Zimbabwe including deployment of human rights monitors and establishing an independent commission of inquiry into the political violence.

(ii) We call upon African leaders at all levels – pan-African, regional and national – and their institutions to apply all necessary pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately end the political violence. 

(iii) We again call on the political leadership in Zimbabwe to seek a solution to the current political crisis in a spirit of reconciliation and dialogue.

We, the undersigned, also encourage you to take part in the Pan-African Campaign of Solidarity for Zimbabwe, being launched this Saturday, 5th July, to demonstrate your support for the Zimbabwean people.