Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe
November 12th, 2007
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) has launched a Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe, calling for Commonwealth leaders to re-engage with Zimbabwe. This is what they have to say below. Please visit the link and sign the petition; please can you use the email option on the site to alert others to do the same.
Commonwealth Action For Zimbabwe
As the crisis in Zimbabwe deepens, Commonwealth organisations, NGOs and campaigners are calling on Commonwealth leaders to act.
Spearheading the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), backed by a number of Commonwealth organisations, has launched a Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe (see below), calling for Commonwealth leaders to re-engage with Zimbabwe.
The RCS position is that although Zimbabwe is no longer a member of the Commonwealth (having withdrawn in 2003), it is wrong for the Commonwealth to ignore such an important issue, especially considering the action the Commonwealth took over former member countries such as South Africa and the former Rhodesia.
All citizens of Commonwealth countries, who feel solidarity with the Zimbabwean people, are encouraged to sign the Charter. Civil Society Organisations, religious groups and any other interested parties are also welcome to contact the RCS to express their support. The hope is that Commonwealth governments will be persuaded to act if Commonwealth citizens sign the charter in great numbers.
The Charter, with a list of signatures, will be presented, at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth Secretary General and President Museveni of Uganda, the CHOGM host.
Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe
- We, citizens of the Commonwealth, affirm our solidarity with the Zimbabwean people in their time of trial.
- Despite the Zimbabwean government’s decision to leave the Commonwealth in 2003, we believe that the Commonwealth must keep faith with the Zimbabwean people, just as it has, at similar moments of challenge, walked with the people of Rhodesia, Namibia, Mozambique and apartheid South Africa.
- We call upon Commonwealth Heads of Government to recognise their shared responsibility to support the Zimbabwean people, particularly in addressing the economic and humanitarian crisis engulfing the country; and strengthening a process of dialogue and negotiation which will assist Zimbabweans in rebuilding their nation:
- as a stable and prosperous country, feeding and clothing its people, and enjoying the fruits of equitable land reform;
- as a multi-party democracy, built on an active civil society and free media, respecting the rule of law, good governance and human rights; and,
- as a sovereign and independent nation, taking its rightful place in the community of nations, including a return to membership of the Commonwealth.
Sign the petition here.
