Chairperson of the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change and South African opposition Democratic Alliance leader, Mmusi Maimane has requested a meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to discuss the crisis obtaining in the country.
In a letter seen by 263Chat, Maimane said the disturbing reports of beatings and arrests of opposition members at the hands of state security agents in Zimbabwe has pushed him to act.
“As chairperson of the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change, which represents opposition parties from the SADC region, I have a duty to speak up on behalf of our member parties, and to speak out against any injustice in the region. The disturbing reports of beatings, arrests and other threats to hard-won democratic freedoms in Zimbabwe compels me to act,
“In the light of the fast deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, I intend to head up a SAPDC fact-finding mission there as soon as possible, which would include a meeting with your government. Please indicate a date and time next week which best suits your schedule,” said Maimane.
He added that he wishes to see Zimbabwe returning to stability and calm while asking the Mnangagwa government to remove members of the military from the streets.
“We want to see Zimbabwe restored to calm and stability, and to see her people safe from violence and intimidation. We want to see a free Zimbabwean press, and we want to see your streets free from soldiers and guns. We want to see the return of all the individual rights enshrined in your Constitution.
“…Our fundamental interest is to uphold and protect the principles of democracy in the region. The violence against civilians, the shut-down of the Internet and the detention of activists and opponents are thoroughly undemocratic acts. We cannot stand by and watch as Zimbabwean citizens are subjected to these abuses and killings.”
When Maimane raised concern early this week about the deterioration of human rights in the country, government through the ministry of information lambasted the South African opposition leader.
Since mid-January 2019, the state security forces allegedly launched a crackdown on opposition members accusing them of participating in shutdown protests sparked by a sharp increase in the price of fuel.
Various reports of women being raped by soldiers have also surfaced forcing women rights groups to launch black Wednesday in solidarity with the victims who according to the police have not come forward to report alleged crimes.
Maimane is expected in the country next week where will meet government, civil society and opposition leaders for dialogue on best ways to handle the Zimbabwean political and economic crisis.
