Zim-civic society launches make our vote campaign

                                                         17/04/2008 00:12

                                                        By a Correspondent

The Zimbabwe civil society has launched the “make our vote count” campaign, a strategy aimed at mobilising people to reclaim their votes through a peaceful and non-violent social action.

The launch comes in the background of a continuous delay in the release of the March 29 presidential election result which has subjected Zimbabweans to three weeks of anxiety and uncertainty.

In a seven point declaration, the civic groups have urged the people of Zimbabwe to peacefully reclaim their vote through a non violent social action.

“We the leaders of civil society organisations of Zimbabwe call upon the people of Zimbabwe to unite in order to peacefully re-affirm and reclaim their vote through non violent social action.”

The civic groups have petitioned the regional and international leadership through the African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to exert the necessary pressure on the Zimbabwean leaders to protect the will of the people.

The SADC leadership met in Lusaka Zambia last week for an urgent summit to discuss an election stalemate in Zimbabwe which the opposition fears could lead to violence and bloodshed.

To date more than five opposition supporters have died and more than 20 are admitted in hospital.

Hundreds have also fled their homes in the country side if fear of retribution from ZANU PF supporters who are terrorising opposition supporters.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe group comprised of labour human rights and other civic groups has since reported youth militia and war veteran military base camps set up to cow opposition supporters in the event of a run off.

“We demand that, immediate actions be taken to ensure the closure of youth militia and war veteran or military base camps that have been set up in various areas around the country and to oversee the disarmament and disbanding of the groups,” said the declaration.

The civic groups have also urged ZANU PF to cease the use of state security institutions and repressive legislation to deny freedoms of assembly, association and expression.

Service chiefs have in the run up and after the polls issued statements that they will not salute opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai if he becomes president of Zimbabwe.