Global Zimbabwe Forum is cautious about agreement

GLOBAL ZIMBABWE FORUM

PRESS STATEMENT

RE: GZF Cautiously Welcomes the Zimbabwe Agreement


At its special General Council meeting held on 15th September 2008, the Global Zimbabwe Forum (GZF) discussed the issue of the signing of a settlement between the political parties and resolved to issue the following statement:

The GZF would like to express its cautious welcome to the signing of the political agreement between the MDC and Zanu PF.

This is a positive step forward as we continue with the process of seeking a lasting and decisive solution to the nation’s crisis.

The agreement must be viewed not as an end in itself but more of as a means to the ultimate objective of attaining a truly democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe .

The GZF would like to once again raise its concerns at the seclusional and exclusionary nature of the process that culminated in the signing of the agreement. It must be emphasised that the political parties alone cannot be able to fully resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe .

There is thus a need for an all inclusive public process of constructive national engagement in order to take the nation forward.

All other stakeholders such as the Diaspora community, CBOs, NGOs, CSOs, labour, women, students, youth, business, and faith based organizations among others need to be actively included in the national discourse of implementing the terms of the deal.

In particular, the GZF insists that the Zimbabwean Diaspora community needs also to actively participate specifically with regards to the process of adopting the new Zimbabwean Constitution and holding of fresh elections as proposed by the provisions of the agreement.

The GZF pledges to mobilize the Zimbabwean Diaspora community to actively support and participate in the entire transitional process and ensure that the nation moves forward from both a socio-economic and political perspective.

May God bless our beautiful Zimbabwe !

The Global Zimbabwe Forumc/o IUF HouseRampe du Pont-Rouge, 8, CH-1213, Petit-Lancy GenevaSwitzerlandPhone: + 41 22 879 0502Fax: + 41 22 793 22 38