ID meets Movement for Democratic Change
21-08-2007, 13H30, Plans to meet ZANU-PF in next two weeks... ID President Patricia de Lille delivers a Member’s Statement on Zimbabwe shortly after 14H00 in Parliament.
Statement
The ID National Caucus met with the MDC’s Nqobizitha Mlilo, Political Liaison for International Affairs, and Sara Reith, MDC Coordinator for the Western Cape, in line with the ID’s efforts to help find solutions to the crisis in Zimbabwe.
These are the steps supported by the ID to ensure that the Zimbabwean elections in March 2008 are free and fair, and are a true representation of the will of the Zimbabwean people.
1. An immediate end to violence
2. A repeal of all legislation, such as the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which represent a violation of basic human rights and prevent free political activity.
3. The Zimbabwean crisis will only be resolved through a negotiated settlement. This settlement must be completed in time for the March 2008 Elections. The SADC initiative is proceeding at a snail’s pace – they took from March until August to agree on the agenda for talks - and the ID believes President Mbeki should be assisted in his role as mediator. The ID proposes that the SADC invite two former African Heads of State, Joachim Chisano and Kenneth Kaunda, to assist Mbeki.
4. Election observers and monitors from the SADC and the AU must be in Zimbabwe 4 months prior to the elections to ensure that free political activity can take place.
5. The Zimbabwean voters roll needs to be entirely revamped and provision must be made for those Zimbabweans who have fled the country to vote.
6. A new, people-driven Constitution must be adopted before the next Election.
ID President Patricia de Lille says ‘the MDC also brought up their concerns relating to refugees who have fled Zimbabwe and come to our country.
‘We agree that our brothers and sisters from Zimbabwe must be handled in a humane way and we need to look at ways of getting assistance from the UNHCR to deal with the massive influx of refugees,’ De Lille says.
‘In trying to find solutions to the problems in Zimbabwe, the process must be led by Zimbabwean themselves and any assistance from the international community must be complementary.’
Released by ID President Patricia de Lille – 084 777 2065
The ID National Caucus met with the MDC’s Nqobizitha Mlilo, Political Liaison for International Affairs, and Sara Reith, MDC Coordinator for the Western Cape, in line with the ID’s efforts to help find solutions to the crisis in Zimbabwe.
These are the steps supported by the ID to ensure that the Zimbabwean elections in March 2008 are free and fair, and are a true representation of the will of the Zimbabwean people.
1. An immediate end to violence
2. A repeal of all legislation, such as the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which represent a violation of basic human rights and prevent free political activity.
3. The Zimbabwean crisis will only be resolved through a negotiated settlement. This settlement must be completed in time for the March 2008 Elections. The SADC initiative is proceeding at a snail’s pace – they took from March until August to agree on the agenda for talks - and the ID believes President Mbeki should be assisted in his role as mediator. The ID proposes that the SADC invite two former African Heads of State, Joachim Chisano and Kenneth Kaunda, to assist Mbeki.
4. Election observers and monitors from the SADC and the AU must be in Zimbabwe 4 months prior to the elections to ensure that free political activity can take place.
5. The Zimbabwean voters roll needs to be entirely revamped and provision must be made for those Zimbabweans who have fled the country to vote.
6. A new, people-driven Constitution must be adopted before the next Election.
ID President Patricia de Lille says ‘the MDC also brought up their concerns relating to refugees who have fled Zimbabwe and come to our country.
‘We agree that our brothers and sisters from Zimbabwe must be handled in a humane way and we need to look at ways of getting assistance from the UNHCR to deal with the massive influx of refugees,’ De Lille says.
‘In trying to find solutions to the problems in Zimbabwe, the process must be led by Zimbabwean themselves and any assistance from the international community must be complementary.’
Released by ID President Patricia de Lille – 084 777 2065
