The Elders (London)
7 December 2008
press release
The Elders have released a detailed report on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe following their recent visit to the region. The report calls on SADC leaders to acknowledge the seriousness of the refugee crisis in the region, stop deportations to Zimbabwe and establish a regional coordination mechanism to address and contain Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic.
Speaking in Paris, where they are meeting privately, The Elders have also expressed their concern about the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation, ongoing human rights violations and the inability of the current government to relieve the suffering of their people. They urge SADC to engage more actively in accelerating the transition of power in Zimbabwe to an inclusive power-sharing government.
Three members of The Elders, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former United States President Jimmy Carter and international advocate for women and children's rights Mrs Graça Machel tried to visit Zimbabwe on 22 and 23 November but were unable to enter the country. Instead they met Zimbabwean political leaders, civil society and business representatives, donors, aid workers and UN agency heads over three days in Johannesburg.
The report of their visit is addressed to Zimbabwe's political leaders, SADC leaders and donors. It has also been received by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council.
While the focus of the report is the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, the Elders group as a whole has been following events since their colleagues' visit, and have added their support to calls for an accelerated transition of power in Zimbabwe.
"There is bitter disappointment in the current leadership," said Mr Annan. "This government has not demonstrated the ability to lead the
country out of its current crisis. The process of transition to an inclusive government must be accelerated and I urge SADC leaders to play a more active role in pressing for that to occur."
Graça Machel urged SADC leaders to visit Zimbabwe themselves. "We were not able to enter the country, but I am pleased that South Africa's
government is planning a fact-finding mission and I would urge all the leaders of SADC to visit Zimbabwe to assess the humanitarian situation first-hand. Zimbabwe's leaders are failing their people and the region cannot ignore the suffering of millions any longer."
"Zimbabwe urgently needs the rapid formation of a workable government," said President Carter. "The regime has been in denial about what is happening in their country, and the region has not really wanted to know either," said President Carter. "The cholera epidemic has shown just how serious the situation in Zimbabwe has become."
The Elders chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu was not able to join the Elders in Paris for their meeting, but said from South Africa that Robert Mugabe "has destroyed a wonderful country. A country that used to be a bread basket has now become a basket case."
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, former UN Commissioner for Human Rights and acting chair of the Elders said: "There are grave and flagrant human rights abuses occurring. Jestina Mukoko, Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project was abducted from her home last Wednesday by a gang of plain-clothed men armed with guns. We are deeply concerned about her and others who have disappeared."
"The future of the country cannot be in the hands of the present government," said former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland.
Former Brazilian President Fernando H. Cardoso said: "There is no longer any alternative - Zimbabwe's economy is at a standstill and the situation will only get worse while the political situation remains uncertain."
Ela Bhatt, founder of the three-million strong Self Employed Women's Association in India appealed to the leaders "to restore normalcy and peace so that the poor can earn their daily bread. When workers are not able to pay for a few loaves of bread with their monthly earnings, their leaders are not meeting the most basic needs of their people."
Lakhdar Brahimi, former Algerian Foreign Minister said "A liberation movement and its leaders lose their legitimacy when they not only ignore the suffering of their people but actually act in a manner that increases their suffering dramatically. African leaders in general - and SADC leaders in particular - have a duty to come to the assistance of the people."
This weekend the Elders are meeting privately in Paris, where they are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On Monday they will meet President Nicolas Sarkozy and attend a ceremony at the Elysee Palace to mark the anniversary.
The Elders-inspired Every Human Has Rights campaign has reintroduced the Universal Declaration to millions of people around the world. For more information and to make your commitment to upholding the Declaration go to www.everyhumanhasrights.org
About The Elders
The Elders are Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Yunus. Aung San Suu Kyi is an honorary Elder.
The Elders' story began in a conversation between musician Peter Gabriel and businessman Richard Branson. They discussed the idea of a new gathering of world leaders - people of moral standing, independent of government or financial influence - to guide and support the 'global village'. For inspiration they looked to traditional societies where elders are often trusted by their people to help resolve disputes and protect the interests of the entire community. Gabriel and Branson took their idea to Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, who were immediately enthusiastic.
On his 89th birthday in 2007, Nelson Mandela publicly announced the formation of The Elders, saying: "This group derives its strength not from political, economic or military power, but from the independence and integrity of those who are here ... I believe that, with their experience and their energies, and their profound commitment to building a better world, The Elders can become a fiercely independent and robust force for good, tackling complex and intractable issues."
As globally respected leaders, The Elders offer their collective experience, and their independent voices to support the resolution of conflict, to seek new approaches to easing human suffering - and to give voice to those who struggle to be heard.
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Fishperry asshole, the debate is not about Rhodesia. Zimbabweans are not fighting Mugabe to replace with a dead man "Ian Smith in Rhodesia" Cut that rubbish because it does not fly anywhere! You have a very small brain thats why you cannot think of a Zimbabwe that is free from tyranny and under the black majority. We Zimbabweans are fighting for a democratic Zimbabwe, not a failed state of Mugabe or a racist dictatorship of Ian Smith. Rhodesia died a long time ago and Smith was the last of them.
The elders need to give a balanced assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe. Too bad they were not allowed to go into Zim, but at the same time, they need to be neutral if they are to get respect in future lest everywhere they go, they will be viewed with suspcion. I fully agree with their comments that Mugabe and ZPF have mismanaged that economy and they are partly to blame. They have done their part by rightly pointing out the mess these guys have created. However they also need to point out that the sanctions imposed on the individuals have also affected the generality of the Zimbabweans, infact, the general populace has been hit more than the targets. The targets have ways to cushion themselves against these sanctions, but surely the generality dont. The elders need to tell the West that the intended effect of the sanctions has not worked as intended and the West should immediately lift those sanctions, go back to the drawing board and restart otherwise that path is merely making Zimbos suffer and they should be condemned to the extent they have made the general population suffer. If we are honest with our assessments, sanctions have not been good for the country and that is not to say Bob and ZPF should be exonerated.
Elders my foot - people just trying to make sure that we do not get crashed completely. They know the sanctions were always against the people.
You hurt the people you weaken the goverment. How do you do this - use the media but most important make sure the targets cannot borrow the huge sums needed for seeds etc. You see no country buys these things with cash. No cerdit no farmimg.
There is no such thing as a sanction against a person. Lets us not be so naive.
Hello Texas Bob.............. THE mis-rule of Rhodesia by Robert(bull in a china shop) Mugabe has been in existance for quite some time.These conditions have been present in Rhodesia(starvation,progression of preventable dieases,collapse currency,collapse infra structure,lack of food security,etc,etc and etc).The council of elders(prune juice drinkers) have constipation of the brain.They should have put up a concerted effort to get the prosecutor in The Haque to bring charges against The bull in a china shop for genocide faced with that possibility Mugabe would leave Rhodesia.The Farmers have to be invited back to Rhodesia their lands given back to them and they should be asked to resume farming.Presently there is no food security in the country and more than half of the population is starving(living on leaves ,ants and roots),obviously the only way to food security is through the farmers whose lands were taken. The system adapted by Commandor(bull in a china shop ) Mugabe ,obviously, did not work well(land re appropiation).In order to reverse the situation the farmers will have to return and begin their skilled work self sufficiency and security in food production,distribution be established.As far as politics is concerned,I believe that both political parties be dissolved and the nation of Rhodesia be placed under UN/AU protection and management until stability return along with economic stability and infra structure recovery.Both Tvsangari and Mugabe should be sequestered from governance.Presently the population of Rhodesia is in grave jeopardy and all efforts should be placed on insuring the survival of the population.Tvsangari is to be suspected because he is too eager to govern when there is nothing to govern,people like that cannot ever be trusted because he has no sensitivity for the survival needs of the people.Tvsangari want to be :The King Of Nothing.by the time he gets to be king everyone would have either died-off or left the country