ZIMBABWE: Human rights situation could soon become "genocide" say civil society activists

Record ID: 361566

  • Title: ZIMBABWE: Human rights situation could soon become "genocide" say civil society activists
  • Date: 17th June 2008
  • Summary: (BN10) NAIROBI, KENYA (JUNE 17, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BUILDING WHERE NEWS CONFERENCE IS TAKING PLACE (MUTE) NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (MUTE) ADVOCACY OFFICER, INDEPENDENT MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE, MAUREEN KADEMAUNGA SEATED DOWN NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BULAWAYO AGENDA ADVOCACY GROUP, GORDON MOYO, SAYING: "T
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zimbabwe
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA43CMRZWCZFFGHHE2R79H6W8F7
  • Story Text: The political and human rights situation in Zimbabwe is worsening and could lead to "genocide", Zimbabwe civil society activists warned on Tuesday (June 17).
    Speaking at a news conference in Nairobi, the activists said that they knew of plans for violence and rigging of a run-off presidential election on June 27, where opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will face President Robert Mugabe again.
    Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential elections in March but did not get the necessary majority.

    "The structures of killing are in place so killing can take place at any time in Zimbabwe," said Gordon Moyo, the executive director of Bulawayo Agenda Advocacy Group.

    "Why should we have 60 people in the rural area, 5 or 10 of them who are armed against the people? Surely that is preparation for war."

    "We have seen Mugabe doing it, we are not speculating," Moyo added.
    Mugabe threatened on Monday (June 16) to arrest Tsvangirai for provoking violence ahead of a presidential election run-off. He has also vowed that Tsvangirai's party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would never rule Zimbabwe and said he was prepared to fight to keep them from taking power.
    The Zimbabwean ruler warned last week that his supporters were ready to take up arms to prevent the African nation from falling under the control of the country's white minority and Western powers.

    "This will lead to another genocide in Zimbabwe, another gross violation of human rights. We should not wait until the blood is flowing in our streets in Zimbabwe for us to act," said Moyo.
    Despite ZANU-PF's parliamentary losses, Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, has shown little sign of accepting change.
    Maureen Kademaunga, from Independent Media Monitoring Project in Zimbabwe said the run-off itself is also disputed.

    "This election is flawed it is not free and fair and therefore whatever result comes out of this election is illegitimate. We will not wait until the 27th of June to delegitimize this election. We delegitimize it today and now," she said.
    A senior U.N. envoy, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios, arrived in Zimbabwe late on Monday for a five-day visit to assess Zimbabwe's political and humanitarian crisis ahead of the run-off vote.
    Observers from Western countries were barred from the first round ballot on March 29 and are not being allowed in for the run-off. The African Union and Southern African Development Community will send teams.
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