Zim action groups promise more action after SADC failure

By Alex Bell
10 November 2008

Organisations lobbying against the ongoing political stalemate and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe have lashed out at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after the regional body once again failed to end the impasse between ZANU PF and the MDC over the weekend.

Thousands of protestors gathered outside the venue of the extraordinary SADC summit on Zimbabwe in Johannesburg on Sunday, to pressure African leaders to facilitate an end to the deadlock over cabinet ministries. Men and women from different pressure groups waved placards reading “Mugabe must go” and “Hands up for freedom”, while child sized coffins were carried during the demonstrations to symbolise the many children dying in Zimbabwe while the stalemate persists.

Carrie Shelves from People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) , whose members are spearheading the Zimbabwean Women Solidarity Campaign in South Africa, explained on Monday that there is a definite “anger and sense of urgency” felt by its members and by other pressure groups, caused by the lack of action by SADC.

“We are all aware that the longer there is this delay in resolving the political crisis, more people will die from hunger and disease,” Shelves said.

She added that the “apathy of African leaders to deal with dictators” means pressure groups need to adopt different strategies to keep the Zimbabwe crisis in the forefront of news and of general concern, explaining that POWA’s members were still campaigning about the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

At the same time John Vincent Chikwari from the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth Movement said on Monday the group was extremely disappointed and concerned that SADC was unable to produce a successful end to the political impasse.

“A lot of hope was riding on SADC’s influence,” Chikwari explained. “Our only hope now is that the AU will make a difference where SADC could not.”

Chikwari added that the Revolutionary Youth Movement was planning demonstrations to target and pressure the AU, saying the group will not rest until a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s devastating crises was found.

“We cannot lie idly by while Zimbabwe burns,” he said. “We will not let our voices be silenced; instead we will take our action to whatever levels until an end is reached.”