Latest from Zimbabwe

Dear Friends,

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Robert Mugabe to release all prisoners arrested over the past few months, following the agreement between the governing and opposition political parties to form a government. In a meeting on the margins of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa yesterday, 2.2.09, Mr. Ban welcomed the agreement as a first step towards full democracy and urged Mugabe to uphold the human rights and democratic freedoms of all Zimbabweans, and promote national reconciliation. He undertook to immediately send a high-level humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe. His opening remarks at the press conference which followed can be read via the following web link:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=423


His full statement to the AU Summit can be read at: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2009/january/summit/assembly/speeches/ASS_AUC_UN_SG.DOC


Yesterday, 2.2.09 The EU Presidency issued a statement welcoming the agreement between the parties in Zimbabwe under the guidance of SADC and expressing the hope that it will lead to an immediate end to political violence and intimidation and the immediate release of political prisoners. Find the full statement on:
http://www.eu2009.cz/en/news-and-documents/cfsp-statements/declaration-by-the-presidency-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-recent-development-in-zimbabwe-8728/

On the issue of prisoners, our member organization, the Media Institute of Southern Africa, (MISA Zimbabwe) issued an Alert Update 2.2.09 concerning the bail hearing by a High Court Judge in the case of Jestina Mukoko, the Director of our member organization the Zimbabwe Peace Project. After hearing submissions by both parties, Justice Chitakunye then set ruling for 4 February 2009. http://www.misa.org/

Also with regard to the issue of prisoners and abductees, our member organization, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), issued the attached Abductees Daily Update of 30.01.09.

Following the MDC’s announcement that it will join a government of national unity, the Elders issued a statement on 31.1.09 calling on Zimbabweans to unite to end the suffering. It welcomes the development as an important step towards ending the political impasse in Zimbabwe. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan noted that “it is not a guarantee that Zimbabwe’s distress is over. Rebuilding the economy and ending the peoples’ terrible suffering will take much more work on the part of all Zimbabweans, regional leaders and the international community.” Graça Machel emphasized the importance of monitoring events at the political level and ‘encouraging all parties to work in good faith to implement the terms of the Global Political Agreement.” Read the full statement on line at http://theelders-news.blogspot.com/2009/01/elders-call-on-zimbabweans-to-unite-to.html

The Botswana Civil Society Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ) released the attached statement on 30.1.09 expressing deep regret at the position of regional Heads of State and Government at the recent SADC Extraordinary Summit resolving that a Government of National Unity (GNU) be formed in Zimbabwe by 13.02.09. Whilst expressing reservations about the feasibility of a GNU, BOCISCOZ notes that given the endorsement by the parties, the AU and SADC ensure that the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee exercises it’s mandate in an equitable manner.

Veritas issued the attached Bill Watch 4 of 31.1.09. It provides updates on the national council decision of the MDC (T) to join an inclusive government, an overview of the highlights of the 2009 Budget statement presented to the House of Assembly on 29.1.09 and a note on the inclusion of Zimbabwe on the agenda at the AU Summit.

Finally, today is the last day of the 14^th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit which has been taking place in Ethiopia. We refer you to the following statements which includes references to Zimbabwe. The first is the address made by Jikaya Kikwete, the outgoing AU Chairman and President of the Republic of Tanzania, which can be read at: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2009/january/summit/assembly/speeches/ASS_AU_CP_TANZANIA.DOC The second is the opening statement by the Chairperson of the Executive Council, the Foreign Minister of Tanzania, Mr Bernard Membe MP, which can be read at:http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2009/january/summit/EXCL/speeches/EX_CL_MFA_TANZANIA.DOC

We will update you on the final output from this session of the AU in our next mailing.