Zim needs to return to civilian politics

CIVIL society organisations under the banner of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and other key stakeholders including war veterans, women’s groups, youths, students, labour, the informal sector, marginalised populations, the diaspora, the church, human rights institutions, the academia and the business community met virtually recently as part of a dialogue series to discuss the issue of national convergence in light of the continued crisis in Zimbabwe.

Participants expressed concern over the continued multi-faceted crisis bedevilling Zimbabwe which has been characterised by closure of the democratic space, militarisation of civilian politics, a deepening constitutional crisis, continued economic downturn, gross high-level corruption and deteriorating social service delivery all of which point to a negation of virtues of the liberation struggle.

Participants noted with concern the failure by government to uphold fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution and the continued clampdown on pro-democracy forces and civil society organisations.

Participants expressed concern over the continued clampdown on livelihoods and displacements arising from government-sanctioned demolitions of informal traders’ structures and houses.

A few people connected to the elite are capturing the country while the majority, including workers and farmers, wallow in poverty.

Participants expressed concern over the failure of nationhood in Zimbabwe as a result of the lack of political will in dealing with past atrocities such as the Gukurahundi massacres. The country is deeply divided along race, ethnic, political and class lines.

Participants to the National Convergence for Transformation meeting acknowledged the role of the civil society in pushing for a democratic and economically-developed Zimbabwe as well as the need to establish points of synergy in the struggle for a better Zimbabwe.

The meeting, therefore, the following:

Convene an all-working people’s convention and push for an all-stakeholders dialogue as a way of unlocking the Zimbabwean crisis;

Return Zimbabwe to civilian politics by engaging the government and safeguard the gains of the liberation struggle — one person one vote;

In light of the deep polarisation in the country, facilitate real and inclusive dialogue towards nation building across political, racial, class, gender and ethnic lines;

Together fashion a new social contract between the government and citizens where the Constitution, and no party or leader, is supreme. Zimbabwe does not want another super President;

Acknowledge and engage the diaspora on economic, governance and political reforms in Zimbabwe as well as facilitate and strengthen solidarity/development structures at a regional, continental and global levels and to leverage on this potential.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition