TransAfrica Forum, the nation’s oldest African American human rights and social justice advocacy organization promoting diversity and equity in the foreign policy arena, condemns the violence perpetrated by the Mugabe regime against community organizers, unions and opposition party members and supports Zimbabwean Civil Society’s decision to reject the June 27th run off elections.

Zimbabwe is in the throes of a devastating political, economic, and humanitarian crisis.

A presidential run-off election was scheduled for June 27th but the widespread political violence inflicted on the population has overshadowed the poll to the point where on June 21, 2008 Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement of Democratic Change, declared their intent to boycott the elections for the Presidency of Zimbabwe.

“Given the escalating violence in Zimbabwe, the arrest of Tendai Biti, secretary-general of MDC for subversion and recent raid of the MDC’s national headquarters is seems that the government of Zimbabwe is intent on creating and maintaining an environment more akin to conflict than an election. This has made a free and fair election impossible.” says Nicole Lee, Executive Director, TransAfrica Forum.

TransAfrica Forum echoes the calls from Zimbabwean civil society for a process and arrangement that will create an environment where democratic solutions to this crisis can be developed. We recognize that the reality on the ground is not conducive to an election despite the continued campaigning of ZANU-PF and the presence of international election observers from seventeen nations.

“While TransAfrica Forum salutes the determination of Zimbabwean voters to be heard,” states Ms. Lee, “We recognize that, given the current conditions, any election result would lack credibility.”

TransAfrica Forum continues to support the ongoing Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) mediation process but calls on the African Union to work with SADC leaders to ensure total abidance to democratic processes and their outcomes in Zimbabwe. TransAfrica joins Zimbabwean civil society in requesting that the African Union, under the leadership of SADC, materially support both the conceptualization and implementation of a Temporary Transitional Government in an effort to support a free, democratic and socially just Zimbabwe.

As reports of politically motivated violence on the ground escalates TransAfrica Forum also recognizes the need for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in the political processes of the Zimbabwean government. Public condemnation of the actions of the ZANU-PF government by SADC heads of state and a more transparent mediation process between the two political parties, ZANU-PF and MDC, are also needed in an effort to curtail intervention from outside forces and might undermine the current conflict resolution processes.

“In light of the recent increase of violence in Zimbabwe following the withdrawal of MDC from the electoral process we join Zimbabwean civil society in calling for the immediate intervention of SADC nation states to end of violence in Zimbabwe.” Roxanne Lawson, Director of Africa Policy.

President Mugabe and the ZANU-PF government plan to participate in the elections and insist that they will remain in office regardless of the results of the elections. ZANU-PF responded to President Mugabe’s loss in the first round of elections on March 29, 2008, with violent retaliation against the population, characterized by brutal beatings, burning of homes and villages, harassment, and arrests. President Mugabe and his ZANU-PF supports have threatened more violence, warning of “war” if the vote goes against the Zimbabwean President.

TransAfrica Forum is the leading U.S. advocacy organization for Africa and the African Diaspora in the arena of U.S. foreign policy. TransAfrica Forum helped lead the world protest against apartheid in South Africa and today works for human and economic justice for African people on the continent of Africa, in Latin America and in the Caribbean.

To schedule an interview contact Joia Jefferson Nuri at 240-603-7905 or jnuri@transafricaforum.org