The council acknowledged that the party remains indebted to the people of Zimbabwe for supporting and standing by the Party and its leadership and for remaining firm and resolute in the struggle for socio-economic development and democratic change in Zimbabwe.
It expressed its disgust at the continued incarceration of political prisoners, some of the Glen View 31, who are being charged with flimsy charges of murdering a police officer.
The council and indeed the whole of the MDC family celebrated the release albeit on remand of the 21 political prisoners on Monday 17 December 2012.
While the principals are preaching peace the council said it is alarmed by the emergence of the Zanu PF militia and terror groups that include “Chipangano” in Mbare, Harare “Jochomondo” in Hurungwe, “Al Shabab” in Kwekwe and the intensification of violence against MDC members and supporters across the country.
The council also expressed concern at the snail’s pace in the conclusion of the Constitution-making process and the inferences to change the content of the same in sharp contrast to the views expressed during the outreach process and the all-stakeholder conferences, as well as the continued reckless utterances from Zanu PF and its leadership for an election in March 2013 without the implementation of key reforms.
The Council then therefore resolved the following;
1. ADOPTION OF CANDIDATE SELECTION RULES
1.1 Unanimously adopts the Party’s Rules and Regulations Guiding the Selection of Candidates for National and Local Government Elections.
1.2 Reaffirms its internal democracy credentials and upholds the values of transparency, open dialogue, competition and openness in all its political processes.
2. RESTATING RESOLUTIONS ON THE CONSTITUTION
2.1 The MDC recalls, restates and reaffirms its resolution of the 3rd of August 2012 to endorse the Copac draft Constitution as a panacea to the socio-economic and political crisis confronting Zimbabwe.
2.2 Reaffirms the decision of the SADC and most recently the Summit of the 8th of December 2012 in Dar es Salam, Tanzania that elections should be held in Zimbabwe only after the implementation of the agreed road map, when all requisite reforms necessary to create a legitimate credible and sustainable election have been attended to.
2.3 Restates that the next election can only be called following consultation and agreement between the three parties to the GPA and that no institution, party or individual has the right to call for an election unilaterally.
3. CONTINUED INCARCERATION OF MDC MEMBERS
3.1 Celebrates the release on Tuesday, albeit on bail, of Councillor Oddrey Sydney Chirombe, Lloyd Chitanda, Tendai Chinyama, Jefias Moyo, Abina Rutsito, Gabriel Shumba, Stephen Takaedzwa, Linda Madyamhanje, Tafadzwa Billiard, Simon Mudimu, Dube Zwelibanzi, Simon Mapanzure, Augustine Tengenyika, Paul Rukanda, Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama, Kerina Dewa, Memory Ncube, Phineas Nhatarikwa and Stanford Mangwiro.
3.2 Calls for the unconditional and immediate release of Last Maengahama, Tungamirai Madzokere, Yvonne Musarurwa, Rebecca Mafikeni and Simon Mapanzure.
3.3 Recalls its resolution of the 28th of September 2012 to direct its appointees in Government to raise this matter, as a matter of urgency, in Government structures which include Cabinet, Council of Ministers, Parliament and the National Security Council.
4. REFORMS BEFORE ELECTIONS
4.1 Restates and reaffirms its position that elections are not an event but a process that must be guided by a crystal clear roadmap to guarantee that they are free, fair and legitimate.
4.2 Recalls the provisions for a sustainable election in Zimbabwe as enshrined in its Conditions for a Sustainable Election in Zimbabwe (CoSEZ) launched on the 8th of March 2012.
4.3 Restates the imperator for the following reforms before any election can be conducted;
a. The enactment of the Copac draft Constitution and the need to harmonize the same with all laws,
b. Media reform including the appointment of a new Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe Board, the appointment of a new Mass Media Trust Board, a paradigm shift in the editorial policy of The Herald which is tantamount to hate speech,
c. Security sector realignment including recalling of all deployed forces in the countryside, an end to utterances by security service chiefs that are tantamount to treason, and
d. The reconstitution of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ZEC by a civilian staff.
5. VIOLENCE AND PEACE
5.1 Notes with concern the insurgence of violence being perpetrated by Zanu PF inclined militia and terror groups such as “Chipangano” in Mbare, “Jochomondo” in Hurungwe and “Al Shabab” in Kwekwe.
5.2 Notes with concern the resurgence of political torture bases, synonymous with the 2008 environment,
6. ELECTION OF CANDIDATES IN LINE WITH THE MDC CONSTITUTION
7. ADOPTION OF NATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR POLITICAL PARTIES
7.1 Applauds the development and adopts the Code of Conduct for Political Parties to guard the conduct of political parties before, during and after elections.
7.2 Urges the endorsement of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties by the Facilitator to the Zimbabwe dialogue, SADC and the African Union as guarantors to the Zimbabwe dialogue.
8. CONDOLENCES TO NDLOVU FAMILY
8.1 The Party consoles the Ndlovu family following the death of Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu in a car accident on Sunday 16 December 2012. The Party wishes Peter Ndlovu a speedy recovery.
8.2 Further, in recognition of Adam’s unstinting contribution to the Zimbabwe football fraternity, the Party declares Adam Ndlovu a national hero.
9. CONDEMNATION OF ATTACKS ON CIVIL SOCIETY AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
ALARMED by the increase in the closure of the democratic space particularly the clamping down on the civic society bodies characterised by numerous arrests of human rights defenders across the country by the State security agents.
Post published in: News