The situation in Zimbabwe is disturbing. The crisis is not only affecting the people of Zimbabwe, but is a great concern for all Africans. The recent sad and regrettable events in South Africa clearly underline the linkages and interdependence of our affairs.
African civil society must make a clear stand. Our voice must be clear, precise and loud enough to be heard by our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe.
- We stand for free and democratic processes in Zimbabwe
- We regret and condemn violence and intimidation
- It is unacceptable to harass and detain presidential candidates.
Threats by the incumbent of civil war if he loses the elections are alarming. They raise the question of what is then the point of the election. The position taken by some that democracy is fine as long as I win is intolerable.
After a decade in power it is understandable, but unacceptable, if some leaders develop a sense of entitlement and blur the line between their post and their person.
Imagine if Barack Obama was arrested and detained repeatedly on his way to address some rallies. No doubt the scale of the outrage among the American people and worldwide would have claimed the careers of many people in the administration.
It is likely the president himself would have been subject to impeachment.
So how come in Zimbabwe the repeated detention of the candidate — whose party already won the parliamentary election and who himself defeated the incumbent in the first round of the presidential election — is considered just a routine security operation?
How come the other candidate — the president — is never subjected to such routine security operations? Where is that level playing field?
We Africans are no longer willing to accept lower standards of governance than the rest of the world. That is why we hope all parties concerned in Zimbabwe can pass that test and see through the peaceful and fair election process, well observed and freely reported.
We hope, following the election, that all Zimbabweans can come together to rebuild a great future for a wonderful country.
This is important not only for Zimbabwe but for all of us.
I urge you to visit www.zimbabwe-27june.com and join a growing coalition from civil society demanding that next week is a turning point for Zimbabwe and further step forward for Africa.
Mo Ibrahim is the founder of Celtel International and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Standing up for our neighbour
It is crucial for the interests of both Zimbabwe and Africa that the upcoming elections are free and fair. Zimbabweans fought for liberation in order to be able to determine their own future.
Great sacrifices were made during the liberation struggle. To live up to the aspirations of those who sacrificed, it is vital that nothing is done to deny the legitimate expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
As Africans we consider the forthcoming elections to be critical. We are aware of the attention of the world. More significantly we are conscious of the huge number of Africans who want to see a stable, democratic and peaceful Zimbabwe.
Consequently, we are deeply troubled by the current reports of intimidation, harassment and violence. It is vital that the appropriate conditions are created so that the presidential run-off is conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner. Only then can the political parties conduct their election campaigning in a way that enables the citizens to express freely their political will. In this context, we call for an end to the violence and intimidation, and the restoration of full access for humanitarian and aid agencies.
To this end it will be necessary to have an adequate number of independent electoral observers, both during the election process and to verify the results.
Whatever the outcome of the election, it will be vital for all Zimbabweans to come together in a spirit of reconciliation to secure Zimbabwe’s future. We further call upon African leaders at all levels — pan-African, regional and national — and their institutions to ensure the achievement of these objectives.
The signatories are:
Abdusalami Alhaji Abubakar former president of Nigeria (1998-1999); Kofi Annan former secretary
general of the United Nations (1997-2007), Nobel Laureate and member of The Elders; professor
Kwame Appiah, Laurence S Rockefeller University professor of Philosophy at Princeton Universit y;
Boutros Boutros-Ghali former secretary-general of the UN (1992-1997); Lakhdar Brahimi former UN
special representative for Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq and South Africa, member of The Elders; Pierre
Buyoya former president of Burundi (1987-1993, 1996-2003); Joaquim Chissano former president of
Mozambique (1986-2005); John Githongo former permanent secretary for governance and ethics in
Kenya; Richard Goldstone former judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa; Mo Ibrahim
founder of Celtel International and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Sam Jonah former chief
executive of the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation; Angelique Kidjo musician and Unicef goodwill
ambassador; Wangari Maathai founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Laureate; Graça Machel
president of the Foundation for Community Development and member of The Elders; Ketumile Masire
former president of Botswana (1980-1998); Moeletsi Mbeki deputy chair of the South African Institute
of International Affairs; Benjamin William Mkapa former president of Tanzania (1995-2005); Festus
Mogae former president of Botswana (1998-2008); António Mascarenhas Monteiro former president of
Cape Verde (1991-2001); Elson Bakili Muluzi former president of Malawi (1994-2004); Ali Hassan
Mwinyi former president of Tanzania (1985-1995); Kumi Naidoo secretary general of Civicus; Babacar
Ndiaye former president of the African Development Bank; Youssou N’Dour Musician and Unicef
goodwill ambassador; Njongonkulu Ndungane former Archbishop of Cape Town; Moustapha Niasse
former prime minister of Senegal (1983, 2000-2001); Loyiso Nongxa vice-chancellor and principal of
the University of the Witwatersrand; Karl Offmann former president of Mauritius (2002-2003);
Mamphela Ramphele former managing director of the World Bank and former vice-chancellor of the
University of Cape Town; Jerry John Rawlings former president of Ghana (1993-2001); Johann Rupert
chair of Remgro Limited; Mohammed Sahnoun former UN/OAU special representative for the Great
Lakes region of Africa; Salim Ahmed Salim former prime minister of Tanzania (1994-1995) and former
secretary general of the OAU (1989-2001); John Sentamu Archbishop of York; Nicéphore Dieudonné
Soglo former president of Benin (1991-1996); Miguel Trovoada former president of São Tomé and
PrÃncipe (1991-2001); Desmond Tutu laureate and chair of The Elders; Cassam Uteem former president
of Mauritius (1992-2002); Zwelinzima Vavi general secretary of the Cosatu; Joseph Sinde Warioba
former prime minister of Tanzania (1985-1990); William Kalema chair of the Uganda Investment
Authority; Kenneth David Kaunda former president of Zambia (1964-1991); Thabo Cecil Makgoba;
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town; Domitien Ndayizeye former president of Burundi (2003-2005).