Act Now to End Human Rights Crisis in Zimbabwe

After 28 years in power, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has unleashed new levels of violence in an effort to avoid defeat in an election on June 27. Dozens of opposition party workers have been brutally assassinated, and their supporters subject to widespread violence and intimidation.

Human rights defenders are especially important during such times of crisis, and for that reason have become targets themselves. Election monitors and human rights lawyers have been arrested and beaten by police and armed gangs, and many have fled the country due to death threats.

It is clear that fair elections are impossible, and the international community should put its full weight behind stopping the violence. But effective action by Zimbabwe's neighbors, and especially the region's main power, South Africa, is long overdue.

You can help. Please call on the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the government of South Africa to take a strong and unified stance against the repressive measures of President Mugabe, by:

1. Condemning the violence in forceful and unequivocal terms, including the upcoming meeting in Egypt among Africa's leaders.
2. Enlarging the mediation process, so far entrusted to South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, to include other prominent leaders in the region.
3. Conducting immediate and effective on-the-ground monitoring by sending human rights observers.

Tell me more

Subject:

Your Excellency:

I call on the international community, and particularly the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the government of South Africa, to take a strong and unified stance against the repressive measures of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. After years of repression, the past three months have seen new levels of violence against both human rights defenders and the population at large. President Mugabe's actions pose a threat to his own people and broader regional security and clearly violate international human rights law and norms.

(Edit Letter Below)

In the approach to the run-off election scheduled for this Friday, June 27, President Mugabe has sought to prevent what happened in March - a victory for the opposition - from happening again. While virtually all sectors of Zimbabwean society have been affected by violence and repression, President Mugabe has targeted those sectors of civil society that, through nonviolent means, threaten his hold on power.  Dozens of workers from opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have been brutally assassinated and many others jailed in just the last two months.  Free and fair elections are impossible in such an atmosphere of fear.

Recent attacks on human rights defenders are just the latest in a pattern of intimidation.  The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has suffered numerous incidents, including raids, detentions, beatings, and the June 17 killing of Elliot Machipisa, a ZESN observer in Karuru, Hurungwe, whose family was also attacked.

Lawyers aiding other human rights defenders or political activists are themselves targeted.  Most have been arrested or have fled the country. On June 5, Zimbabwe's public service minister ordered all non-governmental organizations to stop their work.  Since the beginning of June, more than a dozen organizations have been raided, resulting in many arrests.

Zimbabwe's neighbors must not remain silent.  While the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Secretary-General have condemned the violence, the African bodies have not taken effective action.  I strongly urge the AU, SADC, and South African President Thabo Mbeki, as SADC mediator, to take the following measures to help stop the intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders and political activists:

1. Condemn the violence in forceful and unequivocal terms, emphasizing the importance of human rights defenders and safe elections in building a free, secure, and stable society. The human rights crisis in Zimbabwe should be a high priority in the upcoming summit of African leaders in Egypt.
2. Enlarge the mediation process to include other prominent leaders in the region, such as former heads of state who could influence President Mugabe to rein in his campaign of violence.  In the meantime, President Mbeki should provide detailed reports to the chairman of the SADC on his mediation efforts.
3. Conduct immediate and effective on-the-ground human rights monitoring through any existing diplomatic presence and through official missions.  Because human rights defenders are being driven underground and journalists are largely barred from reporting, the need for monitoring by outside entities is particularly acute. In particular, I urge the AU and SADC to send human rights observers to Zimbabwe immediately.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Take Action on this Issue

Send this message to:

H.E. Dr. Machivenyika Mapuranga, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the US
President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki
Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, AU Chairperson
Zambian President Levi Mwanawasa, SADC Chair

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