DURBAN Zimbabwean civil rights organisations have stepped up their fight for democratic reforms in the country. Concerned that President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) are reluctant for grassroots input in constitutional reform ahead of forthcoming elections, civil rights groups held one of a series of meetings in Durban to reach out to millions of Zimbabwean exiles scattered out in neighbouring South Africa.
The seminar was organised by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF), the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and Global Zimbabwe Forum (GZF).
They resolved an urgent plan was needed to be put in place should Mugabe refuse a transition of power.
NCA co-coordinator Munjodzi Mutandiri said: This meeting was one of our many ways of trying to reach as many Zimbabweans as possible, so that we all fight for the good of our country, which needs our united efforts.
There are many Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, especially here in South Africa and our wish is that they all get involved in the struggle that is for their own good.
ZEF executive director Gabriel Shumba welcomed indications that Zimbabwean exiles within the SADC region might be allowed to participate in the forthcoming plebiscite, which may be held in the next two years.
That will be good news for us because we have always been fighting for the Diaspora vote, but it is now up to us as Zimbabweans to make sure that we really mobilize our fellow countrymen to fully participate in the vote, Shumba said.
The organisations promised to travel the length and breadth of South Africa and the whole SADC region in their bid to make sure all Zimbabweans are afforded a chance to chat the way their country should be governed and mobilise support for what course of action is to be taken should Zanu (PF) try to upstage the peoples will again.
Post published in: News