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II. Recommendations

To the Government of Zimbabwe

Immediately cease organizing, managing and providing resources for the violent campaign against MDC activists and perceived MDC supporters by state security forces, ZANU-PF supporters and officials, youth militia and “war veterans.”

Take all steps necessary to ensure that the military plays a completely neutral role in the elections. Take appropriate disciplinary or legal action against military officers who fail to ensure that forces under their command act in a neutral fashion.

Demobilize and disarm the youth militia and “war veterans.”

Institute measures to end the practice of torture and other mistreatment. Ensure the police dismantle all known torture camps and bases and prosecute those responsible for torture and other mistreatment.

Ensure the police take swift and impartial action to protect all persons in Zimbabwe from human rights violations and to investigate all apparent politically motivated abuses.

Cease the politically motivated arrests of civil society activists, journalists, lawyers and election officers and observers.

Allow unfettered access to all humanitarian agencies seeking to assist displaced persons in the provinces affected by the violence.

Ensure that people have freedom of movement within Zimbabwe and that those in need of medical attention are able to seek it without any hindrance.

Cease the harassment and intimidation of medical personnel in rural district hospitals and ensure that they are able to discharge their duties in a safe and secure environment.

In accordance with international standards, convene an independent commission of inquiry to investigate alleged politically motivated crimes since the March 29 elections and prosecute those responsible regardless of position or rank.

Ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit the country.

In the period prior to the presidential runoff

To protect those involved in observing and monitoring the presidential runoff,  ensure that police abide by international human rights standards and act to ensure the safety of election observers, journalists, human rights monitors and other civil society activists.

Allow immediate and unfettered access to electoral observers, human rights monitors, journalists and civil society activists seeking to report on the elections to all parts of the country.

Allow international human rights monitors and electoral observers to remain in the country for as long as they deem necessary to fulfill their respective mandates.

Facilitate the safe and voluntary return of all those displaced by the violence to their homes and ensure that they are able to vote in the runoff.

To the Movement for Democratic Change

• Condemn all acts of violence by MDC members and supporters and call on supporters and members to desist from carrying out acts of violence.

To the Southern African Development Community

Publicly condemn and call for an immediate end to the violence.

Publicly demonstrate that SADC disapproves of the abuses taking place and demand that the government of Zimbabwe restore basic civil and political rights.

Immediately deploy double the number of electoral observers deployed to monitor the March 29 polls to ensure widespread access to all parts of the country.

Ensure that electoral observers remain in the country for as long as necessary after the presidential runoff to help minimize electoral and human rights abuses and to report publicly on those occurring.

Deploy human rights monitors to Zimbabwe to investigate reports or allegations of abuses and report publicly on the findings.

Ensure that the government of Zimbabwe allows freedom of movement and access to human rights monitors and electoral observers around the country.

Insist on full accountability for politically motivated crimes committed in Zimbabwe since March 29 and call for an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the abuses.

To the African Union

Publicly condemn and call for an immediate end to the violence.

Set up a committee of African eminent persons to intervene directly with the government of Zimbabwe and raise the AU’s immediate concerns.

Publicly demonstrate that the AU disapproves of the abuses taking place and demand that the government of Zimbabwe restore basic civil and political rights. 

Immediately deploy double the number of electoral observers deployed to monitor the March 29 polls to ensure widespread access to all parts of the country. 

Ensure that the government of Zimbabwe allows freedom of movement and access to human rights monitors and electoral observers around the country.

Ensure electoral observers remain in the country for as long as necessary after the presidential runoff to help ensure that the aftermath is free from human rights abuses and to report publicly on any that may occur.

Insist on full accountability for politically motivated crimes committed in Zimbabwe since March 29 and call for an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the abuses.

To the EU, US and other international donors

Provide technical and financial support to a possible AU/SADC human rights monitoring team.

Continue to withhold non-development aid to Zimbabwe that is currently suspended until the following conditions are met: clear and convincing evidence exists that the government has taken effective steps to curb the political violence, to put in place conditions that allow for a free and fair runoff election and to act to resettle those displaced by the violence. These steps should include, at a minimum, the full and public investigation of allegations of politically motivated violence, including by government officials and members of the security forces, and appropriately prosecuting those responsible; and the provision of additional and adequate security measures in areas affected by the violence in the lead up to the presidential runoff.

Call on the government of Zimbabwe to allow unfettered access to all parts of the country to local and international election observers, the media and civil society organizations seeking to report on the elections.

To United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

• Appoint a Special Envoy to Zimbabwe to investigate and publicly report on the abuses taking place.

June 2008

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