<P>Dear African CS members</P>
<P>I welcome this initiative to deliver a strong message to SA gouvernments on Zimbabwe's people drama.</P>
<P>My warmest compliments to all these CS organisations for their commitment and best courage for continuing their effort.</P>
<P>Jean-Louis Fullsack</P>
<P>CSDPTT - France<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #ff0000 2px solid">> Message du 23/03/05 18:13<BR>> De : "CIVICUS" <ERIC@CIVICUS.ORG><BR>> A : "wsis" <WSIS@LISTS.SN.APC.ORG><BR>> Copie à : <BR>> Objet : [WSIS CS-Plenary] [WSIS THETHA] CIVICUS: Zimbabwe Media Statement<BR>> <BR>>
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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<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><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 <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><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 Year="2005" Day="12" Month="3">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></BLOCKQUOTE>