By Special Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) director, Okay Machisa, implored the diplomatic community and the civil society solidarity partners in Southern Africa to help Zimbabwe urgently resolve its socioeconomic and political problems.
Machisa was speaking during a diplomatic briefing on the Zimbabwe situation held at the Sirra Burgers Park Hotel in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday, December 6, 2018.
“We implore the international community to be part of us during this era by supporting civil society and engaging the government so that human rights prevail.
“Economic and social justice should prevail during these hard times that we are facing as a country,” Machisa said.
Among the diplomats present were those from Britain, Ireland and Norway alongside civil society organisations that included the Action Support Centre, Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) and Southern Africa Liaison Office (SALO).
The latest engagement of regional players by civil society comes after late October’s visit to meet the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) chairperson and Namibia president, Hage Geingob in Windhoek Namibia.
ZimRights director, Machisa, was also part of the delegation by civic groups led by Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) director, Rashid Mahiya, who is the chairperson of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC), a national coalition of civil society organisations, and included respected civil society leaders from the church and the human rights and governance sector.
The national crisis in the country has moved plunged deeper with doctors and radiographers currently on strike, nationwide fuel shortages, cash shortages, food shortages and hikes in prices of essential goods and services.
