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African labour movement calls for “urgent and decisive
action” on Zimbabwe
Accra, April 17, Ghanadot/GNA – An African labour movement
has expressed concern about the political situation in
Zimbabwe following elections more than two weeks ago and
called for urgent action from African leaders to end the
wait for the results.
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade
Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) said in a statement
received in Accra on Thursday that it was drawing attention
to the “festering situation” in Zimbabwe following the
national elections and the “grave dangers” that this
situation posed not only to the Zimbabwean people but to the
people of Southern Africa as a whole if the right thing was
not done and the will of the people of that country was
subverted.
“We accordingly call for urgent and decisive action by the
AU and all governments and responsible African leadership to
bring the situation to a democratic and desirable outcome
expressive of the democratic choice of the people of that
country,” the statement signed by Kwasi Adu-Amankwa, General
Secretary, said.
ITUC noted that since the announcement of the results of the
parliamentary elections in favour of the opposition
developments in the southern African country had become a
matter of grave concern to all peace loving and democratic
forces on the continent and the world at large.
It said of particular concern had been the “disturbing
silence” of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on the results
of the presidential elections.
“This is a clear violation of the electoral laws of the
country which require election results to be declared within
six days after the ballot.
“In this connection, the ITUC-Africa finds the refusal of
the Zimbabwean High Court to order the Zimbabwean Electoral
Commission to announce the results of the presidential
elections baffling and a disservice to the people of that
country and the whole of Africa.”
ITUC added that election results could not be challenged
when they had not as yet been declared.
“The position of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission that it
has not announced the election results because it needs to
recount the ballot in certain constituencies has come too
late to be convincing and rather gives credence to the
suspicion that something seriously untoward is amiss,” it
said.
“Far from allaying this suspicion by inclusive and
transparent processes, the open acts of intimidation and
mobilization of the police and military as well as
war-veterans against the opposition by governmental
authority can only deepen this suspicion and is to be
deplored. “
ITUC said the conduct of free, fair and transparent
elections that enjoyed the support and confidence of the
electorate as a whole was a fundamental precondition for
democratization, peace, stability and development.
It said experience worldwide, but particularly in Africa,
had shown that where there were attempts to subvert the
electoral choice of the people the likely outcome was a
descent to violence, civil strife and political chaos that
bring untold suffering and hardship on the people.
It therefore called for the immediate declaration of results
of the presidential elections in Zimbabwe, devoid of any
attempt to manipulate the actual outcome.
ITUC called for urgent and robust pressure on the Zimbabwean
Electoral Commission and the ZANU-PF government to respect
the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe.
“Accordingly, we call on the leadership of Southern African
Developmemt Community and the African Union and all African
leaders to stand up and be counted in this moment of truth
for the people of Zimbabwe.”
ITCU noted that the “old and discredited OAU convenience of
non-intervention in the affairs of sovereign African
countries” had now given way to the forward-looking
principle of peer review, democratic accountability and the
right to intervene in order to avert a descent into civil
strife, political violence and chaos.
“The recent experience of Kenya ought to alert all in Africa
that it does not pay to act the ostrich and pretend that all
is well in Zimbabwe. Now is the time for the AU and African
leadership to act while there is still the opportunity to
rescue Zimbabwe from the edge of the political precipice.”
ITUC-Africa called on the AU to convene an urgent meeting on
the situation in Zimbabwe to ensure that the democratic will
of the people is assured and honoured and that no attempt
was made to subvert their choice.
It said this was the certain path of ensuring that the
people of Zimbabwe enjoyed peace and stability in a free and
democratic Zimbabwe.
GNA
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