The Youth organisation Free-Zim Youth has managed to push Zimbabwe on the conflict hot issues of the on-going pre-AU summit Citizens continental civil society conference in Addis, Ethiopia set for 23-24 January.
Aims and objectives of the pre-AU summit civil society conference are to draw concerns and recommendations for the permanent representatives, executive council and finally the Heads of states,
The concerns raised by Free-Zim Youth were the credibility and leverage of the regional initiative Southern African Development Community (SADC) dialogue to deliver in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis,
According to Thabo Mbeki’s initial aims of the regional initiative was to pave way transition and mainly create conditions for free and fair elections in regard to the up-coming  March election in Zimbabwe. But however an audit done over the concessions agreed between the negotiating players still remains below the SADC norms and standards conditions required for free and fair elections which all 14 member states have signed and agreed in Windhoek Namibia in 2001.
Issues raised over agreed position through the SADC initiative,
-POSA laws still makes it impossible for people’s expression and opinions,
-the exclusion of civil society, women groups, youth organisations, faith based organisations within the decision making process,
-the electoral commission still remains state controlled and have influence from the executive Head,
-a one day voting process has been agreed for the harmonised presidential and parliamentary election which makes it impossible logically given the reduction of polling stations in high density areas,
-media laws reformed still remains under the Govt MIC accreditation
-the transitional constitutional document drawn and has no influence of the broader inclusive of the sovereign people of Zimbabwe,
While the youth strongly believe SADC do have the leverage to push for a reform in the crisis they have called for the African Union (AU) through its framework and mechanism to assist the regional initiative in finding in long term solution for the Harare crisis against an internal elite settlement.
The main objective is to seek clarity for the regional initiative challenging its secrecy and no transpacy…..
There is a going concern among African civil society organisations over the issue of Zimbabwe, other hot issues to be tabled are Kenya, Darfur and Somalia . – Free-Zim Youth
Post published in: News