Africa Action Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Stulman Office: (202) 546-7961, Cell (202) 469-9542
michael.stulman@africaaction.org
Africa Action Releases Statement on Escalating Human Rights Abuses in Zimbabwe
Monday April 28, 2008 (Washington DC) – As the post election crisis in Zimbabwe deepens with escalating violence and systematic human rights violations against members of Zimbabwe's civic society and opposition activists, Africa Action today released a statement calling on President Robert Mugabe's administration to immediately release the presidential election results and for all parties to respect the human and civic rights of Zimbabwean voters. Further, Africa Action calls for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Africa Union (AU) to act now to resolve the deteriorating post elections crisis that has already claimed at least 10 lives according to reports coming out of Zimbabwe.
Briggs Bomba, Africa Action's Program Associate for Public Education and Mobilization, said today, "In our recent contact with Zimbabwe's civic groups they appealed for sustained support from progressive organizations in the U.S. We extend solidarity to pro-democracy forces in Zimbabwe today in fulfillment of this request and call upon people all over the U.S. to defend democracy, human rights and social justice in Zimbabwe."
Africa Action calls upon President Mugabe's administration to give democracy a chance in Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabwe can only move forward when the results of the March 29 presidential elections are released and the human and civil rights of Zimbabwean voters are respected," said Africa Action Executive Director Gerald LeMelle. "It has become clear that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has failed to release the results because of undue interference from President Mugabe's administration. Africa Action urges SADC and the AU to decisively pressure President Mugabe to immediately release the results and respect Zimbabwe's democratic process."
Africa Action noted that failure to act resolutely now will undermine SADC and the AU's standing in the region. Inaction by the international community will allow Zimbabwe to sink further into crisis and potentially destabilize the region and further undermine the integrity of the democratic process in Africa.
Africa Action's statement can be read here.
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