[IMC-Boston-Dispatch] Fw: Democracy in Zimbabwe Demands Urgent International Support

[Sofia JarrinT]

--- On Mon, 6/9/08, Africa Action <africaaction at igc.org> wrote:
From: Africa Action <africaaction at igc.org>
Subject: Democracy in Zimbabwe Demands Urgent International Support
To: "Africa Action" <africaaction at igc.org>
Date: Monday, June 9, 2008, 8:02 AM

Africa Action Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Swigert (202) 546-7961

Democracy in Zimbabwe Demands Urgent International Support

Africa Action Releases New Analysis Emphasizing Civil Society’s Role in 
Resolving Crisis

Monday, June 9, 2008 (Washington, DC) - As Zimbabwe’s political and 
social climate grows increasingly violent, Africa Action today released 
a new set of policy recommendations on how the U.S. and the 
international community can support a peaceful and just democratic 
transition for Zimbabwe. The ZANU-PF government’s clampdown on the 
operations of nongovernmental organization such as the international 
humanitarian group CARE threatens millions of Zimbabweans with 
starvation. Already, more than one-third of the population survives on 
food aid. As the presidential runoff election scheduled for June 27 
approaches, the imperfect option of a transitional governing arrangement 
has emerged as the only feasible way forward. International support for 
Zimbabwean civil society and regional actors will be critical to the 
conception of a transitional authority that creates an environment not 
just for free and fair future elections, but also for unhindered 
transfer of power to the winning party.

Police continue to ban and interfere with opposition rallies and detain 
opposition activists. Thousands of villagers have been displaced by 
recent political violence, and at least 60 are estimated to have died. 
Recent explosions of violence in South Africa point to the regional 
implications of Zimbabwe’s political and economic crises, which have 
caused millions to flee the country.

“The government of Zimbabwe must stop interfering with the functions of 
aid groups and the flow of humanitarian aid and ensure that the June 27 
runoff election is free and fair if it goes ahead,” said Africa Action’s 
Briggs Bomba, who was part of a joint Africa Action/TransAfrica Forum 
Observer Mission to Zimbabwe this March. “The international community 
can play a key role in helping open up political space for democratic 
participation by all Zimbabweans. Particularly important is support for 
the efforts of regional actors and local civil society to develop a 
time-limited transitional authority oriented toward constitutional 
reform, the democratization and professionalization of state 
institutions and future free and fair elections.”

Africa Action stands in solidarity with independent civil society in 
Zimbabwe working to create a free, just and democratic future for their 
country. An executive summary of The Zimbabwe Elections: A Dream 
Deferred, the forthcoming Special Report from the Africa 
Action/TransAfrica Forum Election Observer Mission is available at 
http://www.africaaction.org.