Press Statement of The Botswana Civil Society Coalition

Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ)

The Botswana Council of Churches (BCC), The Botswana Council of Non - Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), The Botswana Federation of Secondary School Teachers (BOFESETE), DITSHWANELO - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights and The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter are concerned that there does not seem to be an end in sight to the crisis in Zimbabwe . Instead, what is apparent is an ever-worsening situation which has led to economic hardships and other miseries for the ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe . As members of various civil society organisations in Botswana , we have therefore resolved to act in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and have formed a solidarity coalition. DITSHWANELO is coordinating the activities of the solidarity coalition.

The Government of Zimbabwe has clamped down on those it deems critical of its policies. These include the independent press, members of the judiciary who choose to interpret the law independently, the clergy, trade unions and other civil society organisations. In May 2005, citizens had their homes razed to the ground in what the Government of Zimbabwe termed “Operation Murambatsvina”, reminiscent of the forced removals of the Apartheid era in South Africa . This “Operation” has led to homelessness and further exacerbated the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe . These and many other violations of the rights of Zimbabwean people are carried out by a government which has chosen to disregard the rule of law, as well as international, and regional instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the SADC Protocols relating to elections and gender equality, etc.

Clearly, the situation in Zimbabwe can no longer be dismissed as a domestic issue. It has far reaching social and economic implications for the entire Southern African region, especially for countries such as Botswana who share a border with Zimbabwe . Regional trade has been severely affected and there is a rising number of undocumented migrants/illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe who want to escape the economic hardship in their country. Unfortunately, this migration has exposed many Zimbabweans to further difficulties in the countries in which they have sought safe refuge. These difficulties include xenophobia, exploitation and harassment by both law enforcement officers and citizens.

We, as the Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ), will be conducting a series of public activities between 2 June and 18 July 2006 . Two of the objectives are to highlight the plight of the people of Zimbabwe and to communicate our appeal to our Governments in the SADC region to engage the Government of Zimbabwe more directly. In addition, our activities are aimed at sensitising our people about the dangers of xenophobia. While we do not condone lawlessness, we wish to plead with Batswana, especially the security and law enforcement officers, to treat those they apprehend for breaking the laws of the land (citizens and non-citizens alike) with dignity and not to subject them to ridicule and inhuman treatment.

Among the activities planned is a march and rally on Saturday 10 June 2006 . All are invited to participate. The public will be informed about the details of the march and rally, as well as other planned activities in due course, and we appeal to all for support.

29 May 2006

Gaborone