Action Alert: Emergency meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to be held Saturday 12th April
These photographs were taken the day before yesterday. The two men are MDC MT supporters based on Mashonaland East. They, and others, were viciously assaulted by Zanu PF militia on Tuesday night. Three houses were burned down in the same area in ongoing attacks. This must be stopped!
The Zimbabwean people have spoken in the elections. We said NO to violence and NO to lawlessness. This is a new Zimbabwe: we must not tolerate this abuse of our right to a peaceful democratic country, and this abuse of our people. We must stand together against tyranny. Take Action!
TAKE ACTION
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has called an emergency meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss the Zimbabwean presidential poll delay. This is the first move by Zimbabwe’s regional neighbours to intervene since the elections on 29th March 2008. President Mwanawasa is the current Chairman of the 14-nation South African Development Community. This is what he said yesterday:
I wish to take this opportunity to commend the people of Zimbabwe for the calm and peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
Similarly, I appeal to them to maintain the same spirit of calmness which they exhibited during the elections as they await the results of the presidential elections.
However, given developments immediately following the elections, I have decided, as Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to call an extraordinary summit on Saturday 12th April, 2008 to discuss ways and means of assisting the people of Zimbabwe with the current impasse as well as adopt a co-ordinated approach to the situation in that country.
Both President Morgan Tsvangirai and opposition leader Robert Mugabe will be attending the emergency meeting.
Support our democratically elected leader and take action.
What YOU can do
You can voice your feelings and SHOUT OUT for FREEDOM. Communicate with key SADC people attending the meeting.
Tell them that Zimbabweans have the right to live in a democratic, free and peaceful country. Tell them your personal experiences and why you want change. Make them understand what it is like to be in Zimbabwe today. Tell them we voted for change, we got change, and we want change now. Speak the TRUTH.
HOW you can do it
Email, fax or phone using the details provided below. Keep your messages real and honest but also short and to the point. Remember: thousands of us will be doing this so they will have a lot to read. Let’s make sure they can read and hear it all!
Be polite at all times. People don’t pay attention to angry messages (look at us: Mugabe has been angry with the people for many years now and we just ignored him and voted him out anyway). Anger does not work.
1. Call or fax or email the Zambian State House with a message for President Levy Mwanawasa:
- Tel: +260 1 266147 or 262094
- Fax: +260 1 266092
- Send an email to Mr John Musukuma, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations: johnmu@nkwazi.gov.zm
- Use the contact form on the Zambian State House website here to send an email:
http://www.statehouse.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3 - Bonus email: we’re not sure if this is a direct contact for President Mwanawasa, but just in case it is, copy all the emails you send to: differmu@nkwazi.gov.zm
2. Call or fax a message to President Thabo Mbeki - President of South Africa
- Tel: +27 (0)12 300 5200 and +27 (0)21 464 2100
- Fax: +27 (0)12 323 8246 and +27 (0)21 462 2838
- Send an email to Mr Mukoni Ratshitanga Thabo Mbeki’s Presidential Spokesperson: mukoni@po.gov.za
3. Call or email Lieutenant Colonel Tanki Mothae - Director of Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at SADC
- Tel: +267 361 1001 or +267 397 2848
- E-mail: tmothae@sadc.int
4. Copy all your emails to this general SADC email address:
- Email: registry@sadc.int
5. If you want to attach images to your emails, you can download copies of the photographs at the top of this mailing from the Sokwanele flickr account here:
6. Forward this email to everyone you know and ask them to take action too.
7. Be positive, stay strong, and never forget that we have won.
UPDATE: A comment left in response to this post says: “Mr Mukoni Ratshitanga (Thabo Mbeki’s Presidential Spokesperson) is out traveling and can’t be reached on his normal email address (mukoni@po.gov.za); please use mukoni@mweb.co.za instead. Thanks Filip!“
April 11th, 2008 02:55
Hi, do you want foreigners to write as well? I would be happy to. Last week I emailed the foreign secretary of my country (Norway) and finally today he issued a statement.
April 11th, 2008 10:15
Thanks Sokwanele.
I urge people everywhere to do this. Pressure CAN make a difference.
April 11th, 2008 11:22
Yes please: support from foreigners (or, friends of Zimbabweans) is very welcome.
April 11th, 2008 11:38
Thank you for this. It takes only a few minutes.
Do you have emails for President or presidential/SADC officers of Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi, Angola?
April 11th, 2008 12:01
Thank you so much for this. I’ve been wondering what I can do from here in the UK, and now I have my answer. I’ll forward this to all the other Zimbabweans I know out here.
April 11th, 2008 12:08
Hopefully things will be positive from the SADC meeting this Saturday but there is also an online petition to be presented to Mbeki when he chairs the UN Security Council meeting Wednesday 16 April. The petition still includes the option of run-off but is another action we can take for democracy in Zimbabwe.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_zimbabwe/97.php
April 11th, 2008 12:15
Again, thank you for these pratical steps we can take today, I am greatly encouraged. Pongwe takes place here on the web. Hope needs hands and feet, lets use them.
April 11th, 2008 12:32
We have Facebook Group called ‘Whatever It Takes’. If you have a Facebook Profile please join it - use Facebook to get all your friends to join…
April 11th, 2008 12:33
Yes, now we can do something. Thanks for the addresses you can’t get these from here.
I have done it (the e-mails and the petition).
Don’t loose hope!!
April 11th, 2008 14:12
Sky News video report on the intimidation:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1312570,00.html
April 11th, 2008 14:52
Dear SADC Memebers,
Zimbabwe Elections
This is a simple matter of choosing to do the right thing. It is an opportunity that does not often present itself - when a leader who has run his country into the ground, and the population - yes the population, not some outsider force - speaks loudly and clearly against him through the ballot box, without resorting to vandalism, violence and destruction.
It is the story of a proud, honest and noble people, who need a little international assistance of honest and courageous men to help them shed themselves of the shackles of greed, fear and a power hungry leader.
I suggest that if you do THE RIGHT THING when you have the chance this weekend at SADC, you will be remembered in history for a very long time to come. Similarly I expect, if you do NOT do the right thing, you might also be remembered, but not for as long, and certainly without honour or respect!
The choice is yours, and it will take COURAGE to do the right thing. Do you have courage enough?
April 11th, 2008 15:29
I used to live in Harare for 4 years 1996-2000 whilst building the project Music Crossroads in Southern Africa.
I think I can say that I was fortunate to experiance the true spirit of Zimbabwe during those years.I,ve seen what music can do to create an understanding and acceptance across all bounderies. I really hope you all in Zimbabwe come out on the “right” side with fresh energy and vision to move ahead. Don,t forget the young people and to include them. Enough is enough.
April 11th, 2008 15:59
I hope Mugabe takes to SADC the same message he’s giving his supporters in Zimbabwe -’I need a re-run because I’ve lost’ What part of this very simple logic, upheld by Mugabe’s current antics, is not understood!
April 11th, 2008 16:12
Mr Mukoni Ratshitanga (Thabo Mbeki’s Presidential Spokesperson) is out traveling and can’t be reached on his normal email address (mukoni@po.gov.za); please use mukoni@mweb.co.za instead.
April 11th, 2008 16:34
BBC has just reported the The old man will not be at the summit and that Zimbabwe would be represented at ’some level’. MMMMM????
April 11th, 2008 17:06
As a Zambian by birth and someone who had a chance in Zambia in the 90’s to make a difference and vote UNIP and Kenneth Kaunda out and MMD in - I hope and pray that the will of the Zimbabwean voters is respected and that Robert Mugabe steps down. I have emailed both President Mwanawasa of Zambia and President Mbeki asking them to take a stand against tyranny and thuggery. For the sake of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa peace and stability must prevail - only then do we have a chance of building a prosperous regional economy. I continue to hope and pray…..
April 11th, 2008 17:34
What I would like to say to the people of Zimbabwe is that we should now show our resiliance to Mugabe & his thieves. Let us remain united.
And to Tsvangirai, there are thousands of your supporters here in the diaspora who are ready to help you rebuild Zimbabwe
And to Simba, you know that you were never going to win, however we thank you for taking some of the votes away from this tryrant.
And to George Charamba…..mufana uchaenda kupi? Have you found an ally in Matongo (he looks more of a criminal than you)…. Try Malasyia.
And to the other old men supporting Mugabe, don’t worry Didmus…. we wont toture you… we will just put you in prisons without medications and AIDS will take care of you.
Motokumbira Hunzvi kuti akupeyi mushonga from Hell.
April 11th, 2008 18:34
My hart is heavy. I fear for the people of this country. We have spoken out by our X but still we are silenced. It is as if we did nothing. But still I hold onto the fact that our Father in heaven has seen all, He has heard every prayer, he has stored up every tear, every drop of blood. We know that He has started a good work and that He will complete it. He will restore. Thank you to all who are praying and upholding Zim. Twenty days! From election day is Passover (20th April)We will be set free!
April 11th, 2008 18:50
Dear SADC Chairperon
I would like to urge you to put pressure on Mugabe to quit because he has ruined lives of many people in Zimbabwe and in neighbouring countries. People being forced out and fleeing to neighbouring countries are unacceptable.
Denying people of Zimbabwe the results of the Presidential elections is unacceptable and cowardice on the part of Mugabe and his cronies.
Your assistance in liberating the people of Zimbabwe from this tyranny will endear you and your country with the masses of Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.
Supporting Mugabe when Zimbabwe is burning will forever make your country an enemy of the masses of Zimbabwe and the world.
Lastly, I applaud you for the bold stance that your country has taken to invite all presidents of SADC to the summit.
Regards
Fungayi
April 11th, 2008 20:03
guys tried to email the above address but the emails are being bouncing back
April 11th, 2008 21:28
Thank you all for all your support. It’s great to see the comments feature of our blog being used as an activist hub.
Martin: I hope those emails are bouncing because their inboxes are full of words from people who care about Zimbabwe!
April 11th, 2008 23:12
BS
What a brilliant idea.Lets use every means at our disposal to win this fight.Its not going to be easy but lets not tire and give up.
April 11th, 2008 23:39
I believe Mugabe is now mentally deranged. What happens to good men and women once they get into Zanu-PF is puzzling-look what Gono has turned out to be? I am sure that the end is nigh for these people who continue to ravage our country and destroy the very soul of our future. They will get what they deserve; what goes round comes round.
April 12th, 2008 00:47
Thanks for the answer! Emails are sent off and the petition is passed on to friends and family.
Friend of Zimbabwe
April 12th, 2008 01:51
Unfortunatly i predict total inaction by Zimbabwe’s neighbors. This means that the only eventual course open to the people of Zimbabwe will be violence. Its so sad.
DD
April 12th, 2008 04:51
Thanks for giving us a way to hope. Here is a copy of the letter I sent to almost all those emails. Thanks again.
To our dear leaders,
To our dear leaders,
To our dear leaders,
Men, women, and children of Zimbawe are dying broken, shattered, raped, shot, overworked, because their stay in neighboring countries and overseas is considered unwelcome. Mothers are tired of giving love and care to other people’s children and families when theirs’ struggle without. Men and women want to go to their families. But if they go how will they feed those families? If they stop fending for remittances how will Zimbabweans back home survive?
Yet they know there is hope still. They know like you do that the spirit of Africa, based on human dignity will prevail. As your brother’s keeper you can not choose to enslave three million Zimbabweans simply because of a loyalty to a single individual. Honesty has always been the basis of the African pride. Men and women at the chief’s court always found a way of telling the leader the will of the people. So we Zimbabweans in the spirit of unthuism ask you, our SADC leaders, to do the right thing. We ask that you uphold the will of the people of Zimbabwe. Mugabe has to relinquish power so that the people of Zimbabwe can again find peace, prosperity, and hope. Please let Mugabe know that it is in the same spirit of the revolution of 28 years ago that we ask him to pave way to a new democratic Zimbabwe. Cde Mugabe in 1980, at the eve of independence promised us that we would never be enslaved again. A lack of respect for the people’s vote is indignation of the ruler over his people, and we say no to that. Cde Mugabe the people of Zimbabwe loved and respected you, but now they are saying no to poverty, to hunger, and to undemocratic control. They are protesting against tyranny.
Please let Cde Mugabe understand that we the people of Zimbabwe are intelligent enough to know what is right for us. He has to allow us the dignity of knowing that we have the right and the liberty to choose a new leader. We want to know that we have the liberty that every nation should be assured of. Men and women and children in the diaspora are dying to go home and start building for their futures and for the future of their children, and SADC leaders, you are their hope. PLEASE do not deny them that hope,
Graciously yours,
Paidamoyo
April 12th, 2008 08:48
I think this is a defining moment in the history of Zimbabwe post independence. Mugabe and his thugs are trying to subvert the will of the people and if we, SADC included, sit on our laurels he will succeed. This is a desperate situation requiring desperate measures.
There are only 2 SADC presidents who can wield a lot of power over Mugabe. These are Armando Guebuza (Mozambique) and Thabo Mbeki. THis may sound wild but why can’t these 2 gentlemen gang up and close their borders to all commercial traffic destined for Zimbabwe? Yes, you got me right - Iam advocating for Mozambique and South Africa to close their borders to commercial traffic. Starve us of fuel, grain imports and every other import you can imagine. I am going even further to ask Mozambique to swith off the 100MW power that we get from Cahorra Bassa. Im sure ESKOM has already done this judging by the numerous outages occuraing in South Africa. All Iam saying is plunge this tyrant further down the abyss by making the country ungovernable. A hungry man in an angry man and I can assure you once these measures start taking effect, the anger will grow exponentially and our people will finally say Enough/Zvakwana/Sokwanele with one loud voice without any discord.
Remember what I said at the begining, this is a desperate situation requiring desperate measures. It will be painful on the generality of the populace but I can assure you with my eyes closed, isolation is the only sure way to force the tyrant and his train of thugs to give up. This is political surgery and unfortunately, there is no anaesthetic to numb our bodies. We have to go through it painful as it may be.
Zvakwana
April 12th, 2008 09:14
Well Bob had good teachers at rigging elections (uk,usa and commonwealth countries)
That is why the inaction over the years of rigged elections.
It has now got to the stage that he can no longer be ignored too many Zimbabweans (black and white) have taken refuge in other countries.But are all united in bringing about an equal country, also tribalism/racism must be put to rest for the better of the country
June 28th, 2008 18:27
Boycott 2010 World Cup in SA. The South African government has kept quiet about the crisis in Zimbabwe for too long now, and has blocked resolutions in the UN Security Council condemning Zimbabwe.
How can South Africa claim an African World Cup when Africans are being killed across its border? How can the few that will benefit from the World Cup, be those who keep their silence of the atrocities across the border?
Please join our campaign to urge countries with democratic principles around the world to boycott the 2010 World Cup in South Africa if the South African Government fails to take decisive action against the regime in Zimbabwe.