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Deliberately delaying the release of all political prisoners violates the GPA
Sokwanele Article: February 23rd, 2009Focussing on clause 18.5 (j)
Sokwanele's ZIG Watch project has been documenting violations of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed between Zimbabwe's three main political parties. Through this article, Sokwanele aims to familiarise our readership with sub-clause 18.5(j), one of ten sub-clauses falling under Article XVIII of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed on September 15th 2008. Article XVIII of the GPA sets out to ensure the security of all Zimbabweans and to prevent future political violence.
Article XVIII, clause 18.5 (j) that while having due regard to the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the principles of the rule of law, the prosecuting authorities will expedite the determination as to whether or not there is sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution or keeping on remand of all persons accused of politically related offences arising out of or connected with the March and June 2008 elections.
Accountability and responsibility
Clause 18.5(j) specifically targets Zimbabwe's prosecuting authorities. Under the GPA, the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs has been allocated to Zanu PF, so the political party chiefly accountable for breaches in Clause 18.5(j) is Zanu PF. The person directly answerable to the people of Zimbabwe and to SADC for any breaches of this clause is Patrick Chinamasa, the appointed Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.
Patrick Chinamasa was also one of the principle members of Zanu PF's negotiating team in the drafting of the GPA, so he will be well-versed in both the letter and the spirit of the agreement. Very significantly, Chinamasa is also a Zanu PF representative on the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC) (Article XXII in the GPA). Under the terms agreed, members of JOMIC will monitor compliance with, and progress on, all the items agreed on within the GPA, including clause 18.5(j).
In short: Patrick Chinamasa helped draft the agreement that includes this clause; he is directly in charge of the Ministry that has the power to ensure it is complied with; and he is one of the people responsible for ensuring that all parties stick to the agreement on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe.
"Stand Up (for) Zimbabwe" Day
Sokwanele Article: May 19th, 2008Stand up (for) Zimbabwe Campaign
Concept for “Stand Up (for) Zimbabwe” Day
The 25 May is commemorated annually as Africa Day, recalling the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, in 1963. Flowing from the communiqué issued by the African Civil Society Meeting held in Dar es Salaam in April 2008, we ask concerned organizations regionally and internationally to commemorate Africa Day, Sunday 25 May 2008, as one on which to show solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe - a "Stand Up (For) Zimbabwe" Day.
Although the concept originates with a group of southern Africa-based NGO's, concerned for issues of democracy and human rights, in Zimbabwe, it is intended that people all over the world build on this concept and that the "Stand Up For Zimbabwe" campaign have varied and multiple dimensions, not controlled or explicitly coordinated by the originating organizations.
