AFRICA DAY 25 MAY 2008
umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
YOU STILL NEED TO STAND STRONG FOR YOUR CHILD
As our whole continent marks Africa Day this week, WOZA members think that it has become meaningless. 25 May is supposed to be a celebration of the African spirit and unity. Yet what is there to celebrate when poverty is increasing and our life expectancy is decreasing? What is there to celebrate when Zimbabweans no longer have faith that their right to vote is respected? We do not see evidence that African leaders still value the principles of ubuntu/hunhu and count themselves as part of the African people. Do people like Robert Mugabe and Thabo Mbeki remember the saying ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu / a person is a person because of people’.
This is our Africa Day message to him: Robert Mugabe, you have become known to us for the violence you have unleashed against us – the people of Zimbabwe. Although we respect the role you played to bring about Zimbabwe, the violence you direct with your trademark fist is not a good legacy. People in Matabeleland and Midlands, supporters of ZAPU, were killed during Gukurahundi in the early 1980’s. Residents of Porta Farm also paid a high price for supporting Ndabaningi Sithole. In 2000, violent land invasions were unleashed to punish Zimbabweans because they refused your constitutional amendments. We are no longer the breadbasket of Africa as a result. In 2005, Operation Murambatsvina was designed to quell rising dissent and support for the Movement for Democratic Change after the 31 March 2005 election. Recently we saw Operation MaVhoterapapi (where have you voted) conducted to punish people who exercised their right to vote. We ask you to remember the biblical verse that for everything there is a season and respect the fact that Zimbabweans voted for change in March.
THABO MBEKI is also a PERSON.
This is our Africa Day message to him: When you held the hand of Robert Mugabe and said “what crisis”, people in Zimbabwe and in your own country were shocked at your lack of sensitivity. A lack of sensitivity that again showed itself by your delay in commenting at the loss of innocent lives in the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. As we bury our dead, killed in Zimbabwe by state agents, and those killed in South Africa, there is no denying that their blood is on your hands. We ask you to restore our belief in your African Renaissance and practice what you preach. You still have time to leave a positive legacy.
The day of the presidential run-off, 27 June, is just four weeks away but there is no change in the political impasse and violence is widespread throughout Zimbabwe. Recognising WOZA’s role as human rights defenders, we will work tirelessly to persuade Zimbabweans that they must prepare to turn out in high numbers to vote in the run-off. We will ask them to face the fact that Mugabe as the leader of a so-called ‘liberation war party’ has failed to deliver social justice. By refusing to release results timeously and unleashing violence on voters, Mugabe has betrayed the one man one vote ideal our heroes died for. We advise Zimbabweans that their vote must be a vote for Morgan Tsvangirai, giving him a chance as a transitional president.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE, THEREFORE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:
1. That ZANU PF close all militia camps and end the violence against the people of Zimbabwe immediately.
2. That the Zimbabwe Republic Police arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of violence without fear or favour.
3. That political leaders at all levels remember that blood was spilt to deliver the ‘one man one vote’ ideal for Zimbabweans. We will continue to vote and defend our vote in a determined and peaceful way.
4. That the ‘real’ war veterans help us stop the violence and speak out against those perpetrating the violence in their name.
5. That the uniformed forces realise that there is no peace in the absence of justice. We ask them to respect that Zimbabweans have voted for change and refrain from being used to perpetrate violence and to carry out injustices. When change comes, and it will come, WOZA will demand an audit of all civil servants, including the uniformed forces. We, your neighbours in our communities, know you for the things that you do, both good and bad. We will remember. Hear us loud and clear – your leaders may get generous retirement packages but you will be left to face the justice of the law and the anger of the people. When you see us in the streets, we come in peace with love in our hearts and you have the choice to respond likewise and allow us to do our work as mothers of the nation. Good actions will also be remembered and rewarded.
6. That the Zimbabwean government make the necessary arrangements to comply with the SADC principles governing elections and to allow ZEC to do their job without interference.
7. We call on ZEC to be professional and non-partisan and to ensure that the results are released within 24 hours of the ballots closing.
8. We call on SADC, the African Union and the United Nations to assist us by sending observers to all areas of Zimbabwe to help us feel confident of exercising our right to vote. When they attend they should show leadership by publicly acknowledging the human rights violations being perpetrated.
9. We ask the South African government to make transparent the prosecution of those arrested for xenophobic attacks so that we can feel confident that there is still justice in the law in South Africa.
We would also like to thank civic society organisations both in the region and abroad for their continued solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe – shown in demonstrations in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Botswana in the last week. We would like to invite them to come to Zimbabwe to observe the run-off and ask that they keep us in their thoughts and prayers as we face the darkest hour before dawn.
Lastly WOZA would like to implore ALL Zimbabweans to remain calm but committed to making their vote count in these next few weeks.
Stand up for your child’s future by voting on 27 June 2008 for a new president who must deliver social justice.
IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!