Dear Friends

Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) on 02 May 08 issued a statement calling for the respect for the rights of non-partisan independent election observers as well as the will of the people of Zimbabwe . In its statement ZESN reveals that its members, staff, management and leadership have been subjected to intimidation by the government since its announcement of projections for the presidential election on 31 March 08. ZESN’s mission will however remain to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe despite the harassment and intimidation.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), our member organisation, has released a statement in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day tomorrow 03 May 08. MISA-Zimbabwe is however celebrating “against the backdrop of uncertainty and fear arising from the delayed presidential election results amid reports of countrywide retributive violence that has seen scores of innocent citizens being harassed, assaulted, maimed and arrested for exercising their free expression and democratic right to vote.” Those who have been following up freelance journalist Frank Chikowore’s case who had been remanded in custody to 05 May 08, be advised MISA-Zimbabwe advises today that he has been granted bail.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional has also issued the attached World Freedom Day press statement today in Windhoek . MISA says it is marking May 3 under the shadow of a crisis in Zimbabwe and further expresses concern at the continued use of insult laws by powerful individuals in government, politics and business to silence journalists. MISA will release the 14th edition of its annual state of the media publication, “So This Is Democracy?” to mark the World Press Freedom Day. This report documents and comments on the 181 media freedom and freedom of expression violations recorded by MISA in 2007. The flagship publication will be officially launched at a cocktail evening today 02 May 2008 during the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day celebrations to be held in Maputo , Mozambique . The full report can be accessed from the link below and reference to Zimbabwe is made on pages 123 to 142.
http://www.misa.org/researchandpublication/democracy/So%20this%20is%20democracy.pdf

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJPZ), circulated on 02 May 2008 a press statement expressing its grave concern over the “fast deteriorating political and security situation in Zimbabwe” CCJP believes the prevailing situation is not conducive to holding free and fair elections should there be need for a run-off election. CCJP also recommends that SADC and African Union observe the run-off whilst United Nations supervises to guarantee the legitimacy of the poll results. Please find the attached statement.

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has released a statement today joining the rest of the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day. ZINASU is concerned by the closure of media houses considered violent towards the government and urges all journalists to remain vigilant and continue providing their services without fear.

Reporters Without Borders have issued a press release condemning the freelance journalist Precious Shumba in a police raid on Harare office of the international aid NGO, ActionAid. They are concerned that Shumba is the 10th journalist to be arrested since the general elections. Please see the link below.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=26805

The Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ) issued a statement yesterday urging the government of Botswana to engage with SADC member states to ensure that the situation in Zimbabwe is resolved peacefully.

MMPZ reported in their Prime Time Daily Monitoring Report that there was a presentation of the 2008 First Quarter Monetary Policy Statement by Reserve Bank governor and no mention of election results on all ZBC stations. However the governor was reported to have acknowledged that Zimbabwe needs a political solution to its economic crisis but exonerates himself and the government from the economic decline.

In the Daily Media Update, MMPZ reports that The Herald continued to divert the public’s attention from Zimbabwe ’s post election crisis. The Herald is also said to have reported that UN had “fingered” the opposition as being responsible for violence. The private media is reported to have highlighted the growing international irritation with Harare ’s continued suppression of the presidential election result. Please find the attached reports.

Following the UN Security Council discussions on Zimbabwe, Gugulethu Moyo, a prominent Zimbabwean Lawyer commented on the way forward for Zimbabwe on 29 April 2008 which can be accessed from the following link:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/gugulethu_moyo/2008/04/decision_day_for_zimbabwe.html
Gugulethu said, “it seems inconceivable that without robust international action, Mugabe's hidebound regime will change course and open the way to a democratic transition.”