Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe today Inflation rate of +2,200%, will rise to 5,000%

Only 20% of people formally employed 60- 70% of our workforce in the Diaspora Lowest life expectancy on earth: 34 years

for women and 37 for men One of highest HIV rates: over 20% GDP has shrunk by over 40% in six years Urban poverty has quadrupled in five years Health, education and food production

collapsed

Comparative HDI levels over time: Source, UNDP. The graph ends in 2004: since the demolitions in 2005, HDI has fallen even more steeply: we are in 2007 way below Sub Saharan

Africa HDI.

Zimbabwe: a legacy of torture with impunity1890 – 1980: colonial rule: repressive laws,

torture and oppression, ending with Independence and a general amnesty in 1980

1982-987: “Gukurahundi”: massacres and torture by Mugabe Government in western Zimbabwe, ending with an amnesty in 1988

2000-2007: Torture, state organised violence and rigged elections

destruction of social fabric Youth militia training “war veterans” and torture Torture in police custody

Operation Murambatsvina:“discarding the filth”700,000 Zimbabweans have their homes

destroyed in six weeks, in June-July 2005An attempt to de-urbanise the

population, and punish oppositionAn attempt to control the informal sectorThe result 2007:Massive urban poverty and overcrowdingPremature deathChildren out of school, and working

The role of the church and civil society

To strive for justice, speak out: when we stand with the tortured, displaced, hungry, we do God’s Will.

Zimbabweans are disunited and afraid: the Church needs to show leadership

Work for transformation in Zimbabwe: getting rid of Mugabe will not solve the problems

We need accountable leaders, democratic institutions, new constitution and a means of enforcing it.

Events since 11 March arrests

Arrests and torture of more than 50 attending a prayer service

International outrage: Extraordinary SADC meeting

Pres Mbeki asked to head new initiative to oversee transformation in Zimbabwe, in particular reforms to ensure free and fair elections

This is a fragile but important process that should be supported in every way

What we need from the SADC initiative an end to political violence and intimidation repeal of repressive legislation and unjust laws opening up of political space, including media

access policies to address the economic and

humanitarian crisis the development of a people-driven

Constitution that entrenches democratic, just and accountable governance

an electoral and legal framework that ensures free and fair electoral processes

agreed-to principles of governance and a leadership code

a defined process to achieve truth, justice and reconciliation

What Australia can do

Support the SADC initiative by encouraging SADC leaders to keep it on track

Support civil society processes that should parallel the political talks: to ensure a broad-based ownership of any reforms we need all interested parties in Zimbabwe to discuss and make recommendations to the main negotiating process

Continue to support appeals for humanitarian aid

Amos 6, verses 4 to 7.

“Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory,and stretch themselves upon their couches,and eat lambs from the flock,and calves from the midst of the stall;who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,and like David invent for themselves instruments of

music;who drink wine in bowls,and anoint themselves with the finest oils,but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!Therefore they shall now be the first of those to go into

exile,and the revelry of those who stretch themselves shall

pass away.”