Zimbabwe: Promoting Democracy, Economic Justice and Sovereignty in Zimbabwe

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Africa Action continues to work in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe  to promote a successful democratic transition. We especially pledge our solidarity as Zimbabweans embark on the important task of crafting a new democratic constitution and work to expand democratic space and rebuild a devastated economy.

Promoting Free and Fair Elections:  Africa Action deployed a mission to observe and report on the landmark March 2008 general election and produced Zimbabwe Elections 2008: A Dream Deferred - a comprehensive report that was circulated widely and used as an advocacy and information tool by many groups working on Zimbabwe.  As Zimbabwe  heads towards another historic election ( likely to be in 2011), Africa Action will continue working in solidarity with Zimbabwean civil society to promote conditions for free and fair and ensure that the dream for democracy, economic justice and sovereignty is finally redeemed.

Supporting a New Democratic Constitution for Zimbabwe:  Last July, Africa Action participated in the People's Constitutional Convention organized by Crisis in Zimbabwe  Coalition (CZC), the National Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO) and over 100 civil society organizations.  Our staff addressed the gathering in Harare and met with members of civil society.  Since the Convention, we have advocated for minimum benchmarks in the constitutional reform process, including a conducive political environment, a people driven process, upholding democratic values and a free and fair referendum.

Meeting with Civil Society In the Field:  In December, Africa Action staff went on a learning journey to Zimbabwe introducing Funders interested in supporting civil society organizations in Zimbabwe.  The journey's purpose was to appraise ourselves on the democratic transition and civil society's needs.  We met with Africa Action partners in civil society, members of the Inclusive Government, the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee and the diplomatic community. From this trip, we came back with an increased committment to mobilize support for democratic actors working to transform Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Alliance, Mobilizing Resources for Civil Society:  Africa Action continues working with partners to build the Zimbabwe Alliance, a funder/advocate partnership to promote a vibrant civil society and a successful democratic transition in Zimbabwe.  Through the Alliance we will provide critically needed resources to support civil society organizations working on the ground and groups doing important advocacy work in the southern Africa region and internationally.

Keeping You Informed:  From the beginning of this year, Africa Action has issued regular Zimbabwe Solidarity Updates to keep the advocacy community  U.S. policy-makers, and other stakeholders informed on the latest developments in Zimbabwe.  Our issues cover a range of topics key to Zimbabwe's democratic transition. We will continue to bring up to date information and analysis through these solidarity updates.  Contrary to the usual self-interested and polarized discourse on Zimbabwe, through these updates, we will strive to bring you a balanced, objective and people centered perspective

Campaign Resources:

Fact Sheets


Zimbabwe Solidarity Update
“Despite international skepticism and continuing internal friction, Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government continues to take important steps toward crucial reforms over the last few months, opening up media space to allow independent newspapers and beginning an outreach program to gather people’s views on a new constitution. Zimbabwe’s political leaders need to accelerate the pace of political and economic reforms under the Global Political Agreement to depolarize the nation, promote national healing and reconciliation, and craft a charter of good governance…Click here to read the full update.”
July 2010

Zimbabwe Solidarity Update
“Following more than a year of persistent policy inertia and indifference to the Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe, the introduction of the Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act in the U.S. Congress is an important step in reaffirming U.S. policy toward Zimbabwe. While the announced legislation is an important first step, more needs to be done to fully align U.S. policy with democratic and reconstruction aspirations for the people of Zimbabwe. Africa Action makes 12 recommendations to the bill in the hopes that these recommendations will be integrated into the new legislation….Click here to read more analysis.” 
May 2010

Zimbabwe Solidarity Update
“This issue, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the establishment of Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government, includes Africa Action’s recommendations of U.S. policy review toward Zimbabwe, especially the question of sanctions and economic recovery in the country. Furthermore, Africa Action evaluates the key factors in economic and social reform that must be improved before the next general elections in Zimbabwe that are likely to be held in early 2011…Click here to read the full report.”
March 01, 2010

Zimbabwe Solidarity Update
“Despite continuing tensions, Zimbabwe’s fragile inclusive government has resulted in significant economic and political changes since its formation in February 2009. Considerable as these changes are, a lot remains to be done to restore Zimbabwe to its former state of relative prosperity and stability. The reality is that President Mugabe surrendered significant power to the long time opposition Movement for Democratic Change; and thus, dynamic power sharing has replaced unilateralism as the new political environment in Zimbabwe. In 2010, constitutional reform and national healing will be tremendously important processes for Zimbabwe. Click here to read the full update…”
February 01, 2010

Leading Zimbabwean Movement Organizer and Women's Rights Group Win 2009 RFK Human Rights Award
“Magodonga Mahlangu and her organization, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), are the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award winners. WOZA is a grassroots movement of over 60,000 Zimbabweans working throughout their country, empowering women to mobilize and take non-violent action against injustice. Ms. Mahlangu is a bold leader and a pioneer of the women’s rights movement in Zimbabwe and has led WOZA’s determined campaign of direct action…”
September 18, 2009

Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement: One-Year Forward
“Today is the one-year anniversary of the power-sharing accord that resulted in the creation of the new Zimbabwe unity government in early 2009. One year forward, Africa Action notes that while serious challenges remain, significant changes have been made to improve the economic and political conditions on the ground…”
September 15, 2009

Activist Tools


Zimbabwe Campaign Update
“Africa Action’s latest campaign update continues to support the new democratic constitutional reform process in Zimbabwe and commits to working with Zimbabwean civil society to promote a successful democratic transition. Africa Action is interested in creating space for public discussion on Zimbabwe as part of efforts to provide space for inclusive dialogue on some of the critical transition issues… Click here to read the full campaign update.”
July 2010

Key Contacts for Zimbabwe
Activism Africa Action envisions a vibrant Zimbabwe built on a strong culture of democratic governance, economic security for communities, and timely free and fair elections. The following tools can help you take effective action on U.S. policy towards Zimbabwe

Media Briefing Booklet: President Barack Obama's Visit to Ghana
“Africa’s status in U.S. national security policy has risen dramatically in the past decade for three main reasons: America’s growing dependence on Africa’s oil exports, Africa’s importance as a major battlefield in America’s “Global War on Terrorism,” and Africa’s central position in the global competition between America and China for economic and political power. As a result, U.S. military involvement in Africa has escalated significantly, rising from about $100 million each year. Africa Action urges the Obama administration to abandon the militaristic policy of the Bush administration and focus on promoting sustainable economic development, renewable energy technologies, and human rights on the continent….”
July 10, 2009

Conference Report: Dare to Shape the Future, A Conference on Zimbabwe
“Africa Action’s Dare to Shape the Future Conference on Zimbabwe is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to provide space for inclusive dialogue among Zimbabweans to encourage citizens to look at the critical issues affecting Zimbabwe outside of the usual partisan lens. Because of the deliberately inclusive nature of the conference, participants included Zimbabweans of all political backgrounds, reflecting Africa Action’s belief that an inclusive government provides a crucial opportunity for Zimbabweans within and outside government to discuss moving the country from crisis, repression and conflict to a relatively stable political environment. Click here to read the full report…”
July 2010

Africa Action Report: The 2009 People's Constitutional Convention
“Africa Action was invited to participate in the People’s Constitutional Convention organized by the Crisis of Zimbabwe Coalition and the National Alliance for NGO’s (NANGO) in Harare. More than 2,000 activists from 234 civic groups convened to discuss and to map out civil society’s engagement in creating a new constitution for Zimbabwe. In contributing to the Convention, Africa Action saluted the diverse range of Zimbabwe’s civil society for keeping alive the hope for democracy and good governance in the face of serious repression. Africa Action pledges solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe on this crucial path towards a free and just nation….”
July 28, 2009

U.S. Policy


Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (S. 3297 2010:  Analysis and Recommendations
“In May 2010, Senator Russ Feingold with Senator John Kerry and Senator John Isakson introduced new legislation on Zimbabwe - the Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act. This new bill is an important catalyst to the process of reviewing and realigning U.S. policy with Zimbabwe and opens space for a focused debate and discussion on key issues facing U.S. policy toward Zimbabwe. Africa Action will continue its engagement with the U.S Congress on amendments to this bill, and in this regard, we make the following recommendations that reflect appeals by democratic actors in the Inclusive Government of Zimbabwe, civil society leaders, and members of the Zimbabwe Diaspora…Click here to read the full analysis.”
June 2010
 
Zimbabwe: Demystifying sanctions and strengthening solidarity
“This article from Pambazuka News highlights the debates about Zimbabwe’s political crisis and the role of the international community. Authors Briggs Bomba and William Minter discuss the debate around Western sanctions on Zimbabwe that overlook the measures that are actually in place and what specific effects sanctions should or should not have…Click here to go to the link.”
April 2010

Legislation on Zimbabwe Must Align U.S. Policy with Democratic and Reconstruction Aspirations
“Today Africa Action applauds three members of the U.S. Senate for introducing legislation that confronts many of the challenges facing Zimbabwe today. The Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act is a bipartisan legislation that aims to address the widespread concern growing among activists, civil society and lawmakers that U.S. policy is not flexible enough to adapt to new realities on the ground in Zimbabwe…”
March 2010

Africa Action Statement on Zimbabwe's Debt
“Seven years after the IMF suspended Zimbabwe’s voting rights multi-million dollar debt, the Fund restored the country’s voting rights on the Executive Board, citing improved macro-economic management of the economy under new Finance Minister, Tendai Biti…”
March 2010


Africa Action Statement: U.S policy towards Zimbabwe: Time for Change
“Africa Action calls on the U.S. government to fundamentally shift U.S. policy towards Zimbabwe to promote the expansion of democratic space, good governance, economic recovery, and truth, justice, and reconciliation. Since the formation of the Inclusive Government, Zimbabwe is in a fragile transition towards democracy following a decade of repression and astronomical economic collapse…”
June 11, 2009

Africa Action Releases Statement on U.S.- Policy Towards Zimbabwe
“On the occasion of Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s first official visit to Washington, DC, Africa Action released a statement urging the U.S. government to seize the opportunity to initiate fundamental reforms in U.S. policy toward Zimbabwe. Africa Action expresses great concern over a statement this week attributed to Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of State for African Affairs. In an interview published Monday on Reuters…”
June 11, 2009

Zimbabwe Human Rights Activists Re-Arrested
“Today Africa Action unequivocally condemns the re-arrest of human rights defender Jestina Mukoko and 17 other Zimbabwean civil society activists just two months after they were released on bail. Jestina Mukoko, a valiant human rights defender, is still recovering from torture and abuse at the hand of the Zimbabwe police when she was arrested last year…”
May 5, 2009

Leading South African Political Activist Ends 21-Day Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Zimbabwean People
“Nombonsio Gasa, South African political activist, survived only on water for the duration of the three-week hunger strike, which began on February 11. The hunger strike was staged as a symbolic act of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as the country experiences massive food shortages, a deadly cholera epidemic, and ongoing political turmoil, despite the signing of the Global Political Agreement and the formation of the unity government…”
March 6, 2009

A Dream Deferred: The 2008 Zimbabwe Elections
(Three-page Executive Summary available here)
“TransAfrica Forum and Africa Action partnered to field an unofficial observer team to Zimbabwe for the March 29, 2008 Harmonized Elections. The primary strategic objective was to collect first hand information and analysis directly from grassroots communities, trade union organizations, and other civic groups, in order to begin to re-frame what has become a polarized debate among advocates and policymakers in the United States. As the report goes to press, the results of the election, marred by flawed voter rolls, voter intimidation and lack of transparency in vote tallying, make it crucial that the Government of Zimbabwe immediately end its campaign of violence against the political opposition, members of civil society and human rights community. Both TransAfrica Forum and Africa Action recognized that the stakes for Zimbabwe’s election were high and that the outcome would determine the nature of the economic crisis… Click here to read the results of the report.”
July 1, 2008