UN Security Council to be briefed on Zimbabwe on Tuesday
The U.N. Security Council will get a briefing on the situation in Zimbabwe next week from the U.N. Secretariat, the council president said Friday.
May I ask people to submit comments and lobby ideas towards this? And can you research and submit contacts for our Action Contact Database.
I will attempt to consolidate all tonight and then on Monday we can all lobby hard.
What do you say?
April 27th, 2008 14:57
Hi
I have a few ideas to suggest for the lobbying agenda - possible useful starting points:
There should be condemnation of:
the failure to release the presidential electoral results and; of the
widespread violation of international civil and political rights, directed at those who in the opposition or deemed to be sympathetic to it, in particular through delibrate killings, infliction of physical and psychological harm by forced non medically indicated amputations, burning, assaults with weapons and/or objects, maimings, prevention of access to medical treatment or facilities for the injured,intimidation of medical personnel, denial of access to food
the violation of international economic, social and cultural rights by failing to provide access to basic healthcare and medical treatment, food, education, employment, appropriate water and sanitation facilities, reliable and affordable electrical and fuel supply;
and the blatant disregard of the rule of law.
We could seek to get some or all of the following actions which the security council can initiate or conduct itself:
• Placing and implementing a UN arms embargo on all trade in arms and ammunition with Zimbabwe.
• Calling for the immediate release of the Zimbabwean Presidential results;
• Calling for the immediate end to the continued widespread violence against the people of Zimbabwe the urgent deployment of AU and UN civilian peace keepers in Zimbabwe and the appointment of a UN special rapporteur on the Zimbabwean humanitarian and human rights situation; and
• Afford officials of the Movement for Democratic Change diplomatic recognition at UN Level.
In the event that there is a run- off of the Presidential elections:
• Ensure monitoring by a joint UN and AU team of observers, monitors and civilian peace keepers for at least 3 months prior to and after the election results are announced;
• Facilitate the process for Zimbabweans abroad to vote;
• Ensure the presence of foreign media and other independent media sources that are currently banned from Zimbabwe; and
• Devise and implement a program for the immediate support and assistance of Zimbabweans in humanitarian crisis.
April 27th, 2008 15:25
I agree with many who blame African leaders for not taking strong action agains Robert Mugabe.
South Africa is the powerhouse of Southern Africa, that give Mbeki more influence that the rest. Mbeki should be leading in finding solutions by being an honest and neutral peace- broker. Other states can only do their part and many have done so. If he did not lie about the current crisis during the last summit, an immidiate release of the May 29 election result would have taken place. noone killed and there would be peace in Zimbabwe now.
He supports Mugabe “arm and leg” and my view is that the UN Security Council should consider taking serious measures to stop Mbeki from having anything to do with Zimbabwe.Their discussion should equally centre on him and question his role.
He is busy ferrying desperate Zimbabweans from his country to face murder and torture by Robert Mugabe’s regime.
I see Mbeki as ruthless and brutal as his bedfellow Mugabe.
April 27th, 2008 18:21
Perhaps I’m a cynic but I expect the presidential results released by ZEC to show neither party got the 50% + 1 vote needed for victory. You should prepare for that and lobby hard for the real results to be released. failing that…you should have an agenda which ensures observers from non-aligned countries are appointed to oversee the run-off.
Best Regards Dave
April 27th, 2008 18:33
Shami thank you, that is a very helpful summary.
This point about MDC members being afforded UN and indeed AU recognition - like Namibia’s SWAPO in the 1980s - seems pretty potent, as it’s a point that might need to be taken further regarding the Presidency itself.
April 27th, 2008 18:41
Ditto to Shami
April 27th, 2008 18:54
I’d say expect nothing from Mbeki. He’s a man in denial, perhaps that makes him different in a way from Mugabe but the result is the same - people die from HIV which he says doesn’t cause AIDS, and from ZANU-PF which he says doesn’t cause oppression.
Personally I think he’s got Mugabe confused with his own father Govan Mbeki, a true hero of the rural poor. Don’t bother waiting for him to get the therapy he appears to need, rather lobby his advisors and the team-in-waiting i.e. members of the ANC’s National Executive Council, and other members of the UN Security Council plus their advisors.
April 27th, 2008 19:19
Everyone, I’m working on this as we speak, so please keep the ideas coming and b sure to visit the blog tomorrow for the day of lobbying to begin.
Hope
April 27th, 2008 20:07
Don’t forget - trade law organisations
Expert groups on all the different aspects of the violation of international LAW. That is where it becomes relevant to the UN and the point of focus.
Will look at media contacts with legal as well as China/Zimbabwe interest.
April 27th, 2008 21:52
Shami, excellent.
I would also like to suggest that the situation of exiles in neighbouring states should be lobbied. Their situation seems very precarious. It might ensure fairer treatment. I am however at a loss to word it as eloquently as Shami did.
April 27th, 2008 22:14
So, the Press (in this case the Herald) are writing,
‘SA Ambassador to UN Kumalo said South Africa doesn’t oppose a council briefing “however, we wonder just what value it could add.”‘
THERE’s another task: To convince of the value of heightened UN and AU involvement immediately, given that ballot records held by MDC have been destroyed.
He continues,
“We are all frustrated by the fact that the results are not coming out of Zimbabwe…We are all frustrated that the situation is in a deadlock, and we think the way to resolve it is precisely what is happening now, where the countries of southern Africa are assisting the Electoral Commission in Zimbabwe count these votes and make a decision once and for all”.
Convincing of the IMPORTANCE of the security council briefing and UN involvement must be part of the task of such a letter (well, that’s a suggestion, anyway…) A consensus on this point must be established by NGOs, expert lobbying and aid organisations, UN Associations (which are a different thing to the UN) and by prominent Southern Africans.
The ’southern countries of Africa’ are by definition NOT a body oriented to the rule of law in the same way as an inter-governmental organisation with a human rights mandate. The national interest of southern African nations is not enough or appropriate to the situation as it stands now, given the points Shami makes.
April 27th, 2008 22:16
(by Herald I mean International Herald Tribune - sorry not clear at all!)
April 28th, 2008 09:05
I wonder to myself now with the question on exiles being able to vote what makes you a Zimbabwean? Whilst an exiled person may be on the voters role this surely would give him a right to vote externally but what of those who are Zimbabwean but not on the voters role? Do they not have a right to say what they feel? I would like to see somewhere a place for this where one could say I born Zimbabwe and therefore, a Citizen of Zimbabwe and being over 18 years of age would like to vote…… I wonder to myself often do I have a right to say anything on Zimbabwe after all I am not Zimbabwean but Zimbabwe made me who I am and I will always cherish that and I would love to be a part of putting it back together but did I betray her when I left? Or am I where I should be in preperation for my part in her new future and will my efforts be accepted as such..
April 28th, 2008 13:42
I remember that quite a few people in Zimbabwe also complained that their names were not on the voters roll, even though they have registered.
@Mama - No, you did not betray her, don’t be sad. The betrayal came from within. When this is over, all the help there is, will be needed.
April 29th, 2008 09:47
So this morning I open my email and avaaz are calling on the UN G8 etc about the food crisis in the world and Im think how fertiler the soils of Zimbabwe were how Zimbabwe grew acres of maize, beans, rape, etc…. the bread basket of Africa would it be here today if but for a few men…..why am I saying this? Because unless we get Zimbabwe back now next years food crisis will be even greater…..SADC needs to wake up Zimbabwes problems are their problems…..and in turn are the UN problems….Zimbabwe is a global problem………