Zimbabwe: Talks Must Address Violence, Displacement
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GUEST COLUMN
1 August 2008
Posted to the web 1 August 2008
Comfort Ero
Cape Town
If talks between Zimbabwe’s government and the opposition are to help Zimbabweans regain the kind of society they deserve, they will sooner or later have to address a number of pivotal issues head-on.
First, Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF and Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) must demonstrate their commitment to restoring Zimbabweans’ right to life, liberty and the freedom to choose their own government, rather than cynically using the negotiation process to share out positions of power among themselves.
To prove that commitment, negotiators must address the most immediate consequences of recent political violence, by ending the state campaign of targeted attacks and intimidation, and by immediately releasing all political detainees. They must also move swiftly to allow internally displaced persons to return to their homes and agree to the resumption of humanitarian aid without interference of any kind. The parties should also affirm the rights of victims to compensation.
Second, the format of the talks will have to expand beyond the chief political actors to include women and representatives of civil society. It is civil society – concerned citizens and the non-governmental organizations that represent them – that is best placed to ensure that the talks reflect the needs of the Zimbabwean people.
Women’s concerns are especially relevant given both their marginalization in political life and their disproportionate suffering as targets of political violence. Unfortunately, only one woman was on the MDC’s technical team for the talks taking place in Pretoria, South Africa; none were present to represent Zanu-PF. Women’s voices need to be heeded.
Third, Zimbabweans will need tools to help address human rights abuses over an extended period – not just the violence that has occurred this year. Genuine, lasting reconciliation is possible only if society seeks accountability for past wrongs. Experience elsewhere – during political transitions in other parts of Africa as well as in Latin America and Eastern Europe – shows that truth commissions can help repair deep divisions, by publicly examining the actions of national institutions and authorities. A truth-seeking body can also provide a forum for victims to be acknowledged, as well as make recommendations for future reforms.
Fourth, while those responsible for human rights violations will undoubtedly seek to protect themselves from future prosecutions, international law clearly rejects blanket amnesties for mass atrocities, and Zimbabwean civil society agrees with this position.
In 2003, representatives of more than 70 civil society groups met in Johannesburg and rejected amnesty for gross human rights violations. “Blanket amnesties for human rights abusers,” the groups said in a statement, “should never be allowed or find a space on the negotiating table.” Mediators will need to plan reforms of the military and police to undo the large-scale militarization Zimbabwe has undergone in recent years. But as they find ways peacefully to reintegrate fighters into society, the path must remain open for the perpetrators of grave human rights abuses to be brought to justice.
In the “Memorandum of Understanding” signed at the beginning of the current talks, Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara – leader of a second MDC faction – pledged to work toward “a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hate, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality.” This is no less than Zimbabweans deserve. When the parties reach an agreement that includes the essential elements outlined here, those goals will be within reach.
Relevant Links
Comfort Ero heads the South Africa office of the International Center for Transitional Justice, a human rights organization.
Read comments. Write your own.
NONSENSE!!! To use the USA and the EC as examples ... non of your suggestions are taken into account. There are hundreds of civil organisations in those countries in ezistence in these countries and no politician is governed by them ..eg Amnesty international, Oxfarm and others do not get involed in English affatirs . It goes without saying that they interfere and meddle in the affairs of African governments. This patronising stance should STOP if any progress in to be achieved in all spheres of Zimbabwean life. LET GO OF ZIMBABWE. LEAVE ZIMBABWEANS TO SORT OUT THEIR OWN MESS ..… [Read Full Text]
I think you may have misread something there aka, there was no mention of the USA or EC, simply a reference to Latin (South) America and Eastern Europe (the former nations of the USSR, some of which gained their independence recently).
You seem to be obsessed with the UK, USA and EC to the point where you even see references to it when they're not even there ..... which is quite worrying when you instantly dismiss any idea that comes from a source that you suspect has even the most distant of 'western' links.
Mugabe did indeed say it well,… [Read Full Text]
Actually, l have a lot of American friends and l admire the American system of government. How l wish that the granting of independence to African countries in the 1960s was backed by a USA type constitutions, senate, congress etc etc. That type of government would have worked better in the African context. The short time l have been able to spend in the USA, has convinced me the in-built checks and balances enshrined in the American governance would have done a lot of good INSTEAD of the European model which is TOP-DOWN. The UK never had a written constitution… [Read Full Text]
my response is to the article by akapfunde1. Please read the following bill which was passed in 2001, the first sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. Now after review your comments and see if they a legit. We need to know how things worke instead of assuming you know how they work. If you do not know, whatever the media says, and politicans tell us, is not true.
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 494
To provide for a transition to democracy and to promote economic recovery in Zimbabwe.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8, 2001 Mr. FRIST (for… [Read Full Text]
If the USA and the EC are to be taken seriously should realise that countries which are friends and share GOALS do have (a) a FREE or very easy movement of their people across their borders, eg usa and UK, the UK and Australia, Canada and New Zealand. (b) they maintain a dynamic flow of CAPITA between them, not controlled and managed by the IMF and other instruments of imperialism. (c)A free movements of goods across bordes. Unless this happens between the USA, the EC and the New Zimbabwe administration all the so called Aid assistance counts… [Read Full Text]
Are the talks taking place between the Zimbabwe Government and the two MDCs?
Who is the Government when tyrant Mugabe is holding on to power illegitimately? Tsvangirai does not recognize lunatic Mugabe as the country's President anyway. People believe that the talks are bewteen three parties while an eventual agreement should go to the people through a referundun. Hence the call for civilian representatives to be involved in order to infuse transparency in the talks.
Concerning the rights of victims to compensation, let's float the idea of the creation of a special fund whose resources should come mainly from proceeds… [Read Full Text]
Clearly you do not care whether there is restlessness in the land between the two great rivers, Gt Zimbabwe. All you want is trouble and conflict in the midst of Zimbabwe. Yes, mess there is but PEACE should be maintained at all costs. You seem to imply that, unless events go the way you are saying, no movement forward should be entertained at all. Clearly you talk like a rhodie baasi. GOOD LUCKY with your irrelevant patronising position.
Hello Aha!
Let's dintinguish between fundamental basic rights and a process to bring freedom, justice and democracy.
Fundamental basic rights, amongst other things, like your right to cast your vote secretly in free and fair elections, is something that is for immediate implementation. This calls for kicking away all those behind the relevant institutions who have made a mockery of the system. There is nothing to bargain about them.
About the process, it will have to be multi-staged. What's wrong in the call for involving the civilian society in the talks? What's wrong for pointing out the journalist wrongly referred… [Read Full Text]
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The author, Comfort Ero, has distilled a large part of the requirements for Zimbabwe to go forward in a simple, well thought out piece. For instance, the inclusion of women and minorities in the shaping of a New Zimbabwe is of absolute critical importance. The author also touches on a subject which is glossed over by most, and yet is paramount to the healing of this once great nation : “Blanket amnesties for human rights abusers…should never be allowed or find a space on the negotiating table”. Ergo sum, they may run, but they can not hide. The one time… [Read Full Text]