Zimbabwe
More than 86,000 ONE members have signed our petition to the African Union, calling on them to keep the commitment they made to support Zimbabwe’s new unity government, as it struggles to rebuild in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
We’ll be delivering those petition signatures in a few weeks and you can help us reach our goal of 100,000 names, making a powerful statement that the world is watching:
http://www.one.org/zimbabweandtheau
Zimbabwe is still in a very precarious situation. As David Lane said in his email to ONE members today:
“This petition won’t be the end of the line for our work on Zimbabwe, there will be much more to do, but it is a critical first step. Zimbabwe is on the verge of being able to function again and with strong AU support, there is a chance that things could get back on track for people who have been through extraordinarily tough times.”
As the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, it’s more important than ever for us to come together and encourage positive change in the region. As we’ve written about before, the African Union can play a significant role in ensuring that Zimbabwe’s unity government succeeds.
Today, ONE member and activist Kumi Naidoo sent out an email explaining the work he’s done to bring attention to this issue, and his support of the campaign. Please check it out, and lend your voice to the campaign here.
My name is Kumi Naidoo, a South African founder of the Global Campaign Against Poverty, and a ONE member. I’m writing to ask you to join me in signing ONE’s petition calling on the African Union to do everything in its power to end the human rights violations against Zimbabweans and hostility towards humanitarian groups in Zimbabwe. Only then will Zimbabwe’s unity government be able to take on the rampant hunger and widespread cholera epidemic that is ravaging the people of Zimbabwe.
Petition text:
Please ensure that the African Union executes its role as guarantor of the new Zimbabwe unity government.
I recently completed a 21 day fast in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, many of whom are fasting involuntarily in a country ravaged by want, destitution, fear and terror. During my fast, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe joined the government, after reaching an agreement with Robert Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF. This agreement will be overseen by the African Union, acting as guarantor. For this new unity government to have any chance of ending the humanitarian and political crises in Zimbabwe, the African Union and its member nations must take decisive action to ensure that their role as a guarantor is defined and fulfilled.
I have seen with my own eyes what happens when regional powers like the African Union passively allow governments to dismiss the will of a people. Late last year I travelled to Zimbabwe to see for myself what years of corruption, repression and mismanagement had wrought. While there, I met a 10 year-old boy named Sibusiso who had not eaten for 10 days. He told me, “Our country needs to be free – free as a bird – here we are not free. We do not get food to eat.”
We must take action for Sibusiso, for the millions of Zimbabweans who are just as hungry and face the threat of Africa’s worst cholera outbreak in 19 years, which has already killed almost 4,000 people.
(more…)
News sources are reporting that Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, is dead after the two were involved in a head-on collision with a truck. The Prime Minister has reportedly been taken to a hospital with injuries, but details remain murky. You can read more here.
We’ll bring you more details as they arrive.
-Chris Scott
Reuters: African Development Bank praises Zimbabwe plan
Zimbabwe has made an impressive start on an economic recovery plan which warrants support from the international community, African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka said on Thursday.
AFP—UN talks with Mugabe ‘positive’: aid official
A top U.N. aid official said she had held positive talks yesterday with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe about finding ways to combat a raging cholera epidemic and food shortages. Catherine Bragg, the assistant secretary general for humanitarian affairs, met Monday with Mugabe and new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the long-time opposition leader who joined a unity government this month. She said her five-member team was focusing on the cholera epidemic that has so far killed 3,806 people and spilled into neighboring countries.
Reuters—Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai calls for reconciliation
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai called for national reconciliation and forgiveness this weekend, saying that the time had come to address poverty and hunger head on in the country. “This nation needs national healing. It has endured so much violence. Let’s forgive those who have transgressed against us,” Tsvangirai said. Zimbabwe’s new government urgently needs to find a solution to the country’s economic meltdown that has led to the world’s highest inflation and a worthless currency.
-Steve Wilson & Chandler Smith
Today ONE members are taking action to make sure the African Union keeps its promise to put Zimbabwe on the right footing and show the world that it is serious about change. The African Union (AU) will serve as guarantor for the new Zimbabwe “unity government” and it is critical that they take immediate action to ensure Zimbabwe takes steps in the right direction.
In recent weeks, Zimbabwe has attempted to form a “unity government” between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Show the African Union that the world is watching to make sure it keeps its promise to this new government, by signing our petition to the newly-elected African Union chairman Muammar Gaddafi.
Petition text:
Please ensure that the African Union executes its role as guarantor of the new Zimbabwe unity government.
In the past weeks and months we’ve been keeping you posted on the ONE Blog about the increasingly volatile and dangerous situation taking place in Zimbabwe. After suffering through a botched and violent election last year, Zimbabwe remains a land of devastation. 28 years of increasingly dictatorial rule by President Robert Mugabe have led to hyperinflation, food shortages and a breakdown of basic public services.
Take action now by adding your name to our petition asking the African Union to do its job as guarantor of the unity government, and work to end the political repression that has crippled Zimbabwe.
Thank you for your voice,
-Chris Scott
NY Times: Mugabe Foe Sworn In as Zimbabwe Prime Minister
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has taken office as prime minister in a deal with old rival President Robert Mugabe aimed at saving Zimbabwe.
WSJ: Zimbabwe Chooses an African Delusion (opinion-editorial)
Mr. Tupy, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute suggests that the West has to recognize this fundamental lack of political freedom and accountability in Africa. That is especially important now that tens of billions of dollars have been promised to Africa as part of a new push for African development agreed at the 2005 G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland. Mr. Tupy states that bad government in Africa is tolerated and sometimes even encouraged. Zimbabwe’s power-sharing agreement is not a solution, but a delusion.
-Chandler Smith & Chris Scott
Zimbabwe’s parliament just unanimously approved an amendment that will allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister of Zimbabwe. We’ve been keeping you posted about these developments as they occur at our Zimbabwe page , so be sure to check the ONE Blog for further news.
Details of the amendment below, article here
The move allows a power-sharing deal to go ahead with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining the president.
Mr Mugabe is expected to sign the amendment on Friday and Mr Tsvangirai is due to sworn in on 11 February.
The power-sharing deal was agreed in September 2008 but has been mired by bitter disputes.
Last week, southern African leaders, who have been mediating the deal, persuaded Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to join a joint administration despite their concerns over Zanu-PF’s commitment to sharing power.
-Chris Scott
