PRESS RELEASE ON ZIMBABWE JULY 2004

AFRICAN UNION SPEAKS OUT ON ZIMBABWE

DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights would like to congratulate the African Union (AU) on recently adopting the report on Zimbabwe compiled by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in 2002.

The report was initially adopted by the ACHPR at its 34th Session in Banjul, The Gambia in November 2003. It was based on the findings of a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe by ACHPR in June 2002. DITSHWANELO highly commends the ACHPR for implementing its promotional mandate in terms of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This can be achieved by the ACHPR through the drawing of attention to the violation of the human rights of peoples on the African Continent.

DITSHWANELO has, since 2000, called on the Botswana Government, SADC (Southern African Development Community) and AU Governments to take decisive steps to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis of governance in Zimbabwe.

We are pleased to note the position taken by the AU, in the spirit of its vision and mission, which provide for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa” and for the “promotion of peace, human security and good governance in the Continent”.

The AU Governments have committed themselves to continental peace to enable the Union to meet the aspirations of the African peoples for sustainable development. They have committed themselves to creating the conditions for durable peace and development on the African Continent and to addressing the root causes of conflicts in a systematic and holistic manner. They have also committed themselves to achieving higher standards in the areas of human rights, democracy, good governance and conflict prevention as prerequisites for achieving the socio-economic development of the Continent.

DITSHWANELO would like to urge the AU to go beyond the condemnation of the situation in Zimbabwe and take concrete steps towards ensuring that their recommendations are implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe. We also reiterate our call to the Government of Botswana and SADC to act in the best interests of democracy, good governance and human rights of the peoples of the region. The courageous action of the ACHPR and the positive response by the AU, are both steps to be emulated.

7 July 2004
Gaborone