Tlakula made the statement at a workshop in Johannesburg, organised by the South Africa Human Rights Commission, to discuss the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
“As a commission, what we are against is the idea of having governments changing constitutions so as to keep holding on to power until they die. And this is the biggest challenge we have with African governments,” she said.
Mediation talks are taking place between the ruling party Zanu (PF) and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe, in which the MDC is pressing for a new constitution. The Benin-based special rapporteur argued, however, that the problem would not be resolved by a new constitution, but only when the Zimbabwean Government abided by the fundamental principles of that new constitution. Â
The Commissioner also urged civic societies and pressure groups in Zimbabwe to start lobbying the European Union (EU) and other international organisations to pressure President Robert Mugabe into allowing independent observers into the country during the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
“With elections, there are role players that should visit and take part during the 2008 elections and, at the level of Africa Commission, we will be sending a delegation to Zimbabwe,” Tlakula said. Â
The Commissioner also expressed concern at the Government’s delay in announcing the election date.
She said that this was making it difficult for international organisations to send observer missions to cover the election process. – Ntando Ncube
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