By Paul Nyathi|PRESIDENT Hage Geingob should use his “authority and power” as SADC chairperson to intervene in the ”deteriorating” Zimbabwe situation, was the call by Namibian civil society organisations on Wednesday.
The statement was released by the Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (Nangof) Trust and was endorsed by 22 civil society organisations.
Nangof Trust chair Sandie Tjaronda said that Zimbabweans have not experienced peace since the general election of 30 July 2018 and that the situation demanded Geingob’s immediate involvement in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe in order to protect their human rights and bring about peace and security.
“The country has gone through political turmoil and upheavals which led to violence, aggravated by the heavy presence of the security apparatus, mostly armed soldiers, in the streets,” Tjaronda stated.
He added that the president’s intervention was necessary as it “will require greater conviction and commitment to the principles, objectives and undertakings of SADC, which you took an oath to protect without fear or favour”.
Tjaronde went on to say that: “Under these principles, SADC and its member states, pledged to act within the purview of sovereign equality, solidarity, peace and security, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, equity, balance and mutual benefit and peaceful settlement of disputes.”
He stated that what was happening in Zimbabwe was because of that country’s leadership not adhering to these principle and ideals which was unacceptable.
“Innocent defenseless Zimbabweans have been brutally murdered in the violence that was sparked by senseless and self-serving fuel prices and this needs to be condemned in the strongest terms,” Tjaronda said.
Read the full statememt below:
Your Excellency
APPEAL TO RESTORE PEACE AND THE RULE OF LAW IN ZIMBABWE POST ELECTIONS
We, the Namibian Civil Society Organizations under the auspices of Namibia Non-Governmental Organization Forum Trust hereby call upon Your Excellency to use your authority and power as SADC Chairman to intervene on the Zimbabwean deteriorating political situation without further delays.
Since the general election held on 30thJuly 2018, Zimbabwean citizens have not experienced peace in their own mother land. The country has gone through political turmoil and upheavals which led to violence aggravated by the heavy presence of the security apparatus mostly armed soldiers in the streets. We believe Zimbabwean situation demands your immediate involvement in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe to protect their human rights and bring about peace and security for all.
This delicate but necessary assignment will require greater conviction and commitment to the principles, objectives and undertakings of SADC which you took an oath to protect without fear or favor.
Under these principles, SADC and its member states pledged to act within the purview of sovereign equality, solidarity, peace and security, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, equity, balance and mutual benefit and peaceful settlement of disputes.
We have reason to believe that what is happening in Zimbabwe is because of the leadership’s departure from these principle and ideals and the manifestation of a militant authoritarian rule insensitive to the plight of Zimbabwean citizens.
This is unacceptable and inhuman given the volatile profile of Zimbabwe’s political situation and landscape which dates back to president Robert Mugabe’s administration.
We are gravely concerned about the cost of living for ordinary Zimbabweans which has been exacerbated by the increase in prices of commodities in particular the fuel price. Innocent defenseless Zimbabweans have been brutally murdered in the violence that was sparked by this senseless and self-serving fuel prices and this need to be condemned in the strongest terms. We cannot continue to sit back and watch our brothers and sisters suffering under the mistaken hope that one day things will normalize by themselves.
We trust that our humble request will be granted preferential treatment and urgency expressing our interest to support you as always, in crafting a lasting peace solution in collaboration with our Zimbabwean civil society and its alliances.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Sandie Tjaronda
Chairperson of NANGOF –Trust
Endorsed by;
1. Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN)
2. Forum for the Future (FFF)
3. Namibia Network of AIDS Service Organizations (NANASO)
4. Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
5. Labour Resource and Research Institute (LARRi)
6. Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA)
7. National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW)
8. Namibia Development Trust (NDT)
9. Legal Assistance Center (LAC)
10. Katutura Youth Enterprise Center (KAYEC)
11. National Youth Council (NYC)
12. Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO)
13. Breaking the Walls of Silence (BWS)
14. Citizens for Accountable and Transparent Society (CATS)
15. Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organizations (NCSO)
16. Women’s Action for Development (WAD)
17. Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA)
18. Outright Namibia (ORN)
19. Genderlinks Namibia
20. Women’s Solidarity
21. !Nara Training Center
22. Domestic Workers Union