Zimbabwe diaspora groups hail ANC for non-violent elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 December 2007

Internal leadership elections held by South Africa’s African National Congress on Tuesday have been praised by Zimbabwean civil groups in the diaspora, for having been brutally honest, not violent and for setting high standards in the practice of democracy in the region. Controversial former Vice President Jacob Zuma won a heated contest against Mbeki, with supporters literally out-shouting each other but remaining peaceful.

On Wednesday the Global Zimbabwe Forum (GZF) released a statement that congratulated the ANC for the successful conduct of its elections, saying it set an example for the region.

The GZF is a network of Zimbabwean NGOs operating in the diaspora. These groups assist and represent the millions who have left Zimbabwe and are living in diverse communities around the world.

GZF spokesperson Grace Kwinjeh said succession issues within ruling parties in Africa have always been problematic. Closer to home she criticised Zimbabwe’s ruling party for failing to display democratic principles at their congress last week. Kwinjeh said: “The lack of internal democracy in ZANU-PF manifests itself within the broader political spectrum.”

Kwinjeh, herself a political activist, said the ANC congress was full of passionate debate which she described as brutally honest at times, but it never became violent. She contrasted this with ZANU-PF leadership elections where the head of state is not put to the test or held accountable. She praised President Thabo Mbeki for allowing himself to be held accountable in this way.

Asked whether Zuma’s election would have any implications for Zimbabwe, Kwinjeh said Zuma’s close ties to groups such as South Africa’s umbrella labour body COSATU will be an advantage for Zimbabwe because those groups have been assisting their counterparts across the Limpopo, and have stood against Mbeki on Zimbabwe issues.

A statement released by GZF said in part:“We call for Zuma to be even more clear and unequivocal in his stance against any form of dictatorship and human rights abuse in Zimbabwe. We also call upon the newly elected leadership of the ANC to revisit the plight of the millions of Zimbabweans that are currently living in South Africa . In particular we hope that the outstanding issue of the legal status of Zimbabweans will also be decisively resolved soon.”