Ditshwanelo

BOCISCOZ PETITION TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT LIEUTENANT GENERAL SERETSE KHAMA IAN KHAMA

Presented by The Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ)

This is our third petition on Zimbabwe in 2008. Again we draw attention to the fact that our neighbours continue to live in a state of political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis.

Zimbabwe continues to experience massive economic decline marked by hyper-inflation, food insecurity, unemployment, collapsed education and health services and an existing humanitarian catastrophe.

We, BOCISCOZ believe that the people of Zimbabwe remain committed to a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Zimbabwe. We recognise the moral leadership of the Government and people of Botswana, in dealing with the Zimbabwe situation. We therefore call upon the Government of Botswana, as a member of SADC, committed to democracy and rule of law, to ensure that the concerns of the people of Zimbabwe form the basis of the current mediation efforts of the SADC-appointed mediator, President Thabo Mbeki.

Priorities should be humanitarian relief, such as affordable access to food, resuscitation of the economy, an end to violence and human rights abuses, provision of fuel and revival of the health and education sectors.

Note that Zimbabwean Civil Society has been excluded from the ongoing talks. Without the voices of the people, articulated through civil society, there is a real risk that the issues faced by the ordinary Zimbabweans in their daily struggles, will not form the basis of the talks. These include the real effects of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the economic meltdown. We therefore call for the inclusion of civil society, which has a crucial role to play in the rebuilding and healing of Zimbabwe.
Recognise the proven weakness of the concept of a ‘Government of National Unity’ as historically experienced in Africa. It tends to be adopted as a ‘quick-fix’ but unsustainable solution to the cessation of hostilities. It has set a dangerous precedent for the development of democracy on our continent. We join with other civil society organizations in Zimbabwe and in the region, to advocate for the need for a Transitional Authority with a fixed time-frame and a clear mandate. The Transitional Authority should include input from civil society in Zimbabwe and should create an enabling environment for:

°           The completion of the electoral processes for the holding of free and fair elections in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe and the SADC electoral standards
°           National healing to post-election violence
°           A new people-driven Constitution and democratic institutions
°           The lifting of the ban on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged in humanitarian work and
°           De-politicisation of the armed forces and the judiciary

Mosweu Simane (Rev)
The Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO)

Thapelo Ndlovu (Mr)
The Medial Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter