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<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><STRONG>ZIMBABWE MEDIA
STATEMENT<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">16 March 2005<BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P></FONT></FONT></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><BR>Southern African civil society mobilises in
solidarity for democracy and human rights in
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region>
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Johannesburg,
<st1:country-region>South Africa</st1:country-region> </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">– Civil society
groups and citizens from
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Mozambique</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region><st1:place>South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zambia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
participated in a unique demonstration of regional solidarity with the people of
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> on
<st1:date Month="3" Day="12" Year="2005">12 March 2005</st1:date>.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The regional solidarity initiative, co-facilitated by
Amnesty International and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation in
conjunction with local organisations in the respective countries, was aimed at
raising regional and international attention about the situation in
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where
the rights to freedom of assembly and expression have come under grave threat.
It was also intended to encourage regional leaders especially those neigbouring
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> to
break their ‘silence’ on the ongoing human and civic rights violations in
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">In <st1:country-region><st1:place>South
Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> the event took place in Musina, 15 Km.
from the Zimbabwean border, starting with a peaceful march in the centre of the
town and culminating in a musical concert and an over-night vigil at the Skoon
Stadium. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">“The action was intended to promote strategies of working
towards a negotiated political settlement in Zimbabwe, with a genuine and
transparent debate involving not only political parties but all sections of
society including trade unions, faith based organisations and civil society
organisations, for the restoration of democracy in this country,” said Hassan
Lorgat of the South African <st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>ational
<st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>GO Coalition
(SA<st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>GOCO) which co-organised the South African
event. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>otwithstanding the
heavy police presence at the border in Beitbridge, a delegation of women
activists led by Elinor Sisulu, a representative of Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition, sought to deliver a protest message to the Zimbabwean government
through the border authorities but were denied an
audience.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">In
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zambia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, close to
five thousand people gathered in the tourist capital Livingstone to participate
in the solidarity concert.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>‘The
situation in Zimbabwe cannot be ignored by neighbouring countries, and in the
absence of clear messages form African leaders, the impression is given that
Western countries are taking the lead in delivering the hard messages on
Zimbabwe,” said CIVICUS Director of Programmes, David Kalete.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Earlier in the afternoon, a demonstration was held at
<st1:place><st1:PersonName>Vic</st1:PersonName>toria Falls</st1:place> on the
border with
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where
participants displayed placards bearing messages of adherence to democratic
principles, respect for broad citizen participation and freedom of expression.
The demonstration also attracted youth representatives who were commemorating
their Youth Day. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">In Mozambique, the President of the Manica
City Council, where the events were to be held, notified the coordinators 15
hours before the scheduled march, that the event would have to be cancelled.
<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>evertheless,
at dawn, a large crowd gathered in the Provincial capital Chimoio to express
their concern about this decision from the local government and to demonstrate
their solidarity nevertheless with banners, T-shirts and messages of solidarity.
Group leaders representing numerous civil society organisations were surprised
by this abrupt cancellation and were concerned about the implications of this
decision on their own freedom of assembly. They expressed their criticism of the
“quiet diplomacy” which
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Mozambique</st1:place></st1:country-region> like
<st1:country-region><st1:place>South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>
have adopted and which was clearly not delivering results.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><st1:PersonName>Kumi
<st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>aidoo</st1:PersonName>, Secretary General of
CIVICUS said yesterday that “the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
needs to act with vision and courage on
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> if it
is to secure its own credibility with the citizens of the region”.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><BR>E<st1:PersonName>N</st1:PersonName>DS.</SPAN><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><BR>For more information please contact
<st1:PersonName>Florence Kiff</st1:PersonName>, CIVICUS Communications Manager
or David Kalete, Director of Programmes on +27 11 833 5959, or write to
cswatch@civicus.org or <A
href="mailto:florence@civicus.org">florence@civicus.org</A></FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P></BODY></HTML>