Civil Society Organisations Joint Statement on the Military Take Over in Zimbabwe

For Immediate Release

15 November 2017

We the undersigned civil society organisations guided by the Constitution express our concern over the political developments in Zimbabwe, today Wednesday 15 November 2017. We call for the peaceful and constitutional resolution of the situation and the immediate return of Constitutional order and democracy in Zimbabwe.

As civil society, we reiterate our position that the political transition in Zimbabwe must be guided by the Constitution and should adhere to all full tenets of democracy enshrined in it that include a multi-party democratic political system. We condemn any actions, attempts and interests to attain state power outside constitutional provisions.

We believe that the solution to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political problems should be a product of an inclusive all stakeholder process.

1. In the interest of peace, stability and progress in Zimbabwe, we urge President Mugabe to voluntarily step down and pave way for an all-inclusive all stakeholder process which will determine the future of Zimbabwe
2. We implore and would want to remind the Zimbabwe Defense Forces that they have an obligation and duty to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution. We expect and demand that that they fulfil their obligation by:
3. Issuing a clear and quickly implementable roadmap to restoring constitutional order in Zimbabwe
4. In pursuit of our rights and obligations to the Constitution as citizens we urge the people of Zimbabwe to remain peaceful and freely contribute to their preferred way forward and solution to the current crisis.
5. We call on SADC to be the arbiter and allow an inclusive dialogue with political parties, civil society, church, labour, students and other critical stakeholders. We implore SADC to take a leaf from the active and constructive role ECOWAS has played in its sub-region in countries such as in Mali, Burkina and The Gambia in demanding and pressuring authorities to swiftly restore constitutional orders and protect citizens rights
6. We call on Parliament of Zimbabwe to uphold and fulfil their constitutional obligations by:
7. Creating conditions for the swift realignment of key laws to the constitution including the Electoral Act paving way for the conduct of credible free and fair election in 2018;
8. Repealing legislations that dilute progressive provisions of the constitutions such as the Cyber-Security Act,

iii. Immediately discard Constitutional Amendment Bill No.1 of 2017 to safeguard the independence of the judiciary;

1. Restoring citizens freedoms of assembly and speech by amending restrictive laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA)
2. Liberalize the media space;
3. Ensuring civil servants neutrality in the political processes in line with Constitution

We reiterate our position that events in Zimbabwe pose serious security challenges for ordinary citizens and the global democratic order and restate our commitment to defend the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s political transition must be guided by the Constitution and a firm commitment made to uphold the Rule of Law.

ENDS//

1. Achieve Your Goal Trust
2. African Self-help Assistance Programme (ASAP)
3. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union Zimbabwe
4. Artists for Democracy Trust
5. Build a Better Youth Zimbabwe (BABY Zim)
6. Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
7. Bulawayo Vendors Traders Association (BVTA)
8. Bulawayo Youth Arise (BUYA)
9. Centre for Community Development Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
10. Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG)
11. Centre for Youth Development Trust (CYDT)
12. Chitungwiza Centre for Community Development (CCDN)
13. Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERA)
14. Chitungwiza Residents Trust
15. Christian Legal Aid Society
16. Christian Voice International Zimbabwe (CVIZ)
17. Civic Education Network (CIVNET)
18. Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
19. Community Working Group on Health (CWGH)
20. Counselling Services Unit (CSU)
21. Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT)
22. Doors of Hope
23. Ecumenical Support Services (ESS)
24. Election Resource Centre (ERC)
25. Federation of African Women Media in Zim (FAWMZ)
26. Female Students Network (FSN)
27. Gays and Lesbians Association in Zimbabwe (GALZ)
28. General and Plantation Workers Union in Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ)
29. Godlwayo Community Development Trust
30. Gwanda Residents Association
31. Gweru East Residents Association
32. Habakkuk Trust
33. Heal Zimbabwe Trust
34. International Revolutionary League (RILFI)
35. Japa Edutaiment Trust
36. Katswe Sistahood
37. Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
38. Masvingo Human Rights Trust
39. Masvingo Research Institute (MRI)
40. Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT)
41. Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA)
42. Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA)
43. Media Monitoring Project in Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
44. Mission to Live Trust
45. Mutasa Youth Forum Trust
46. NASCOH
47. National Movement of Catholic Student (NMCS)
48. National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ)
49. National Youth Development Trust
50. News of the South
51. Nhimbe Trust
52. Non-Violent Actions for Social Change (NOVASC)
53. Padare
54. Platform for Youth Development (PYD)
55. Plumtree Development Trust (PDT)
56. Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe
57. Radio Dialogue
58. Reconciliation Trust
59. Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
60. Savannah Trust
61. Shalom Trust
62. #SheVotes
63. Student Christian Movement in Zimbabwe
64. Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Rights (Saywhat)
65. Students Solidarity Trust (SST)
66. #Tajamuka
67. Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ)
68. Uhuru Network
69. United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT)
70. Veritas
71. Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation
72. Victory Siyanqoba
73. Wedza Community Development Trust
74. Women in Leadership and Development (WILD)
75. Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU)
76. Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU)
77. Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
78. Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)
79. Women’s Trust
80. Young Voices Network
81. Youth Agenda Trust
82. Youth Agrarian Society (YAS)
83. Youth Alliance for Democracy (YAD)
84. Youth Dialogue Action Network
85. Youth Dialogue Network (YODAN)
86. Youth Environmental Management and Protection Trust (YEMAP)
87. Youth Forum Zimbabwe
88. Zimbabwe Christian Alliance
89. Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA)
90. Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC)
91. Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
92. Zimbabwe Coalition of Debt Development (ZIMCODD)
93. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
94. Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI)
95. Zimbabwe Doctors’ for Human Rights (ZADHR)
96. Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
97. Zimbabwe Farmers Union Development Trust
98. Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS)
99. Zimbabwe Institute (ZI)
100. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
101. Zimbabwe Liberators Platform
102. Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
103. Zimbabwe NGO Human Rights Forum
104. Zimbabwe Organisation of Youth in Politics (ZOYP)
105. Zimbabwe Pastors Forum
106. Zimbabwe Peace Project
107. Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights
108. Zimbabwe United Residents Association
109. Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)
110. Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre & Network
111. Zimbabwe Young Women’s Network for Peacebuilding (ZYWNP)
112. Zimbabwe Youth Movement (ZYM)