Following a discussion hosted by the African Youths Solidarity Alliance, the Southern Africa Refugees Protection has petitioned the government of Zimbabwe to influence the country to uphold democracy.
Below, Spiked Online Media reproduces the petition:
I, Lukeno Hangala, together with Southern Africa Refugees Protection, after having participated in a virtual discussion on the “Role of Youths in Upholding Democracy Under Uncertain Circumstances”, organised by the African Youths Solidarity Alliance (AYSA), with a particular focus on Zimbabwe, am
Concerned;
- About the continued shrinking of democratic space and criminalisation of civic society work in Zimbabwe;
- About entrenchment of authoritarian rule and militarisation of key state institutions in Zimbabwe;
- Noting how Covid19 pandemic has led the government of Zimbabwe to curtail civil and political rights including social and economic rights under the guise of enforcing lockdown regulations;
- Cognizant of the importance of people to people solidarity in order to foster and entrench a culture of respect for human rights and constitutionalism;
- Alive to the worrying state capture by the military and oligarchs in Zimbabwe and subversion of rule of law;
We do hereby petition the Zimbabwe High Commissioner to Namibia with the following demands;
Ø That the government of Zimbabwe must uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights
Ø That the government of Zimbabwe must stop criminalisation of civic society work and persecution of opposition activists
Ø That there is urgent need for demilitarisation of key state institutions in Zimbabwe
Ø That political interference in the operation of the judiciary in Zimbabwe must stop
Ø That the government of Zimbabwe should show sincerity in dealing with corruption which has largely contributed to the socio-economic crisis in Zimbabwe
Ends//