CIVIL Society Organisations have petitioned the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union to push for a transitional government to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis.
The CSOs said the regional and international bodies had the mandate to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis brought about by last month’s disputed poll which was described by several election observer missions as flawed, not free, fair or credible.
The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change also dismissed the poll as a “gigantic fraud” and has launched a diplomatic offensive for a fresh election.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) spokesperson Obert Masaraure told NewsDay that the petition which has so far garnered 2 200 signatures is a first step towards galvanising Zimbabweans to collectively demand fresh, free, fair and credible elections.
“Beyond the petition, citizens won’t be calm, but will engage in concerted mass actions demanding free elections. The Sadc region and AU will definitely facilitate a democratic breakthrough in Zimbabwe when they realise that Zimbabweans are not going to embrace five years under an illegitimate (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa regime,” Masaraure said.
Political analyst and Sapes Trust convener, Ibbo Mandaza said their own petition had garnered 80 000 signatures, adding that there was light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s a fantastic response and reflects the high level of expectations by Zimbabweans for the need to move forward after another disputed election as reflected by the support for the petition which outlines broadly the need for dialogue and a transitional government,” Mandaza said.
In its petition dubbed Stand in Solidarity with Sadc for its credible assessment of Zimbabwe’s Election meant to garner 10 000 signatures, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition also said it has noted with concern the rising “megaphone diplomatic voices” coming out of Harare.
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“We have no other neighbours except the Sadc member States! We declare through this statement the people of Zimbabwe’s unwavering solidarity with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, the chairperson of the Sadc Troika on Politics, Defence and Security, and the head of the Sadc Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) to Zimbabwe’s recently held election, Dr Nevers Mumba, and his team.
“We also acknowledge the Sadc chairperson, His Excellency, and the Angolan President Mr João Lourenço for diplomatically saving Zimbabwe.”
CiZC said Sadc’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and flagging the irregularities in the August 23-24, 2023 elections held in Zimbabwe was commendable.
“The SEOM, under the leadership of Zambia’s former Deputy President Dr Nevers Mumba, carried out its mandate diligently, and in its preliminary report presented on the 25th of August identified various electoral malpractices that undermined the integrity and credibility of the electoral process in Zimbabwe. These malpractices, including the partisan approach of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, raised legitimate concerns about the fairness, transparency and credibility of the election,” the organisation said.
However, institutions such as the Institute for Security Studies have dampened the hopes of many Zimbabweans, saying it is highly unlikely that Sadc will resolve the Zimbabwe poll crisis.
On its X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sadc also said: “Sadc electoral observation missions only observe elections. Sadc does not conduct elections in its member States, but observes them. We then make recommendations. Understand the role of Sadc when it comes to observing elections. Our mandate is only to observe and issue a report.”
