FOR calls upon leaders of the African Union to support Civil and Political Rights for the people of Zimbabwe

For the last several years, the nation of Zimbabwe has been engulfed in a spiral of politically motivated violence and economic crisis that profoundly threatens the future of that nation.

Hundreds of pro-democracy activists and nonviolent opponents of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front have been intimidated, jailed, beaten, and in extreme cases, killed in response to their exercise of the democratic right of dissent. Those who have suffered from violence and abuse include members of the Zimbabwe Fellowship of Reconciliation.

FOR strongly believes that a nonviolent solution to this crisis in Zimbabwe requires critical support from both the international nonviolent community and the leadership of the African Union (formerly Organization of African Unity) in demanding that the current government of Zimbabwe respect the democratic, and human rights of its citizens. We have written these communications to the presidents of South Africa, Malawi, and Nigeria to express our support for their efforts to encourage the full restoration of civil and political rights and the rule of law in that nation.

We ask that members of the FOR in the United States and throughout the world send similar messages of support to these African leaders.

Following is the communication referrenced above:

July 11, 2003

His Excellency Thabo Mbeki
President of the Republic of South Africa
Private Bag X 1000
Pretoria, South Africa 0001

His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Presidential Villa
Abuja, Nigeria

His Excellency Bakili Muluzi
President of the Republic of Malawi
State House
Zomba, Malawi

Excellencies:

I urgently write to you on behalf of the Fellowship of Reconciliation of the United States of America, an affiliate of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the oldest faith-based peace and justice organization in the world, to call your attention to the grave crisis confronting the people of Zimbabwe. Our organization resolutely encourages your efforts as respected leaders within the African Union.

We, like our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe and throughout the world, have noted the grave hardships facing the millions of Zimbabweans who suffer from massive food shortages, extreme levels of unemployment and other economic hardships, and most of all, escalating political violence and relentless, violent attacks by the government of Zimbabwe against civil society and nongovernmental organizations.

As an international, nonviolent organization at work in more than 40 nations around the world, the Fellowship of Reconciliation stands with both you and the people of Zimbabwe in demanding the restoration of law with respect for their right of self-determination. In doing so, we also bring to your special attention the ongoing work of the Zimbabwe Fellowship of Reconciliation, and other nonviolent organizations within Zimbabwean civil society, who seek an end to the downward spiral of political violence and the affirmation of a culture of peace and respect for all Zimbabweans.

Excellencies, your leadership is especially critical in affirming the positive role that Zimbabwe’s neighboring countries, and other members of the African Union, can play in the resolution of this conflict. To this end, the FOR encourages you, as heads of governments and in your leadership capacities within the African Union, to:

• encourage President Robert Mugabe and the ZANU-PF government to enter into serious negotiations, without preconditions, for the purpose of establishing peace and the restoration of civil and political rights within Zimbabwe,
  

• support the right of Zimbabwe’s people to free assembly, free political association, full civil and political rights, freedom from state violence, and freedom of the press, and
  

• use the power and prestige of your offices to insure that the police forces, state security forces, and armed forces of Zimbabwe immediately stop all acts of repression and political violence directed at members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), religious leaders, the free press, non-governmental organizations within Zimbabwe, and other targeted members of the political opposition.

Excellencies, the situation confronting the people of Zimbabwe is extremely grave. And the crisis of violence and disrespect for civil and political freedoms grows day by day. We strongly believe that Zimbabwe, and all of Africa, must affirm popular democracy, the rule of law, and above all, the building of just and nonviolent relationships within civil society as central to stability, economic progress, and hope for the future.

We stand with you, the people of Zimbabwe, and all peace and justice-loving people everywhere in supporting your commitment for the end of violence and the restoration of hope for the people of Zimbabwe.

Thank you for reading and considering this communication.

Sincerely yours,

Patricia Clark
Executive Director
Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA