Ditshwanelo

PRESS STATEMENT BY BOTSWANA CIVIL SOCIETY SOLIDARITY COALITION FOR ZIMBABWE (BOCISCOZ)

SOLIDARITY ACTIONS ON ZIMBABWE IN COMMEMORATION OF AFRICA DAY, 25 May 2008

We, the Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ) join with other civil society organisations in the region in commemorating Africa Day on 25 May 2008. May 25 is recognised annually as Africa Day in remembrance of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. The OAU is now replaced by the African Union. On 21 April 2008, civil society organisations from Africa, including representatives from BOCISCOZ, met in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to discuss strategies for restoring democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe. A communiqué was issued and a plan of action was agreed by these organisations. The meeting also agreed that concerned organisations would show international solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe by commemorating Africa Day 2008 as a “Stand up (For) Zimbabwe” Day.

SADC countries, including Botswana, continue to be negatively affected by the ongoing situation in Zimbabwe. In Botswana, we witness an increasing influx of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers from Zimbabwe, reported food shortages in towns close to the borders and other difficult situations as a result of what is happening in Zimbabwe. These concerns are a symptom of the ongoing political and governance crisis in Zimbabwe. BOCISCOZ is commemorating Africa Day 2008 with the following activities:

Participation on The Morning Grind, phone in programme, on Gabz Fm on 20 May 2008
A press briefing at the boardroom of The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter on 21 May 2008
A call for all churches to focus their services and prayers on the crisis in Zimbabwe on 25 May
A round table discussion on the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe and the implications for Botswana at Boipuso Hall on 26 May 2008 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
A public rally at the Gaborone Secondary School grounds on 26 May 2008 from 11:00 a.m. This will culminate in a public march.

BOCISCOZ will host other solidarity actions in other areas of Botswana including Francistown. We urge all Batswana to continue to exercise restraint when faced by the consequences of the crisis in Zimbabwe. They can show their dissatisfaction with the existing situation in Zimbabwe by joining with us in showing solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe in the planned events.

We are encouraged by the role played by the Government of Botswana in ensuring that the situation in Zimbabwe is given its deserved attention. We therefore, call upon the Government of Botswana to continue engaging with SADC member states to attain a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Zimbabwe.