SADC faces mounting pressure
2005-08-16 10:00
Gaborone - Southern African ministers gathered on Monday to prepare for this week's annual heads of state meeting amid demands for action to avert a humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe and strengthen women's rights in the region.
The 13-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) faces mounting international pressure to act against Zimbabwe, where the destruction of shantytowns and markets has left an estimated 700 000 people without homes, livelihoods or both, according to a United Nations (UN) assessment.
The issue does not feature on the agenda for the summit on Wednesday and Thursday. However, South African deputy foreign affairs minister Aziz Pahad said such matters are "always discussed, if not formally then informally".
Zimbabwe defends its demolition campaign - dubbed Operation Murambatsvina, or Drive Out Trash - as an urban renewal drive. Opposition leaders say it aims to break up their strongholds among the urban poor.
Zimbabwe blitz 'destroyed lives'
"The operation has displaced people and destroyed people's lives and created a humanitarian crisis," said Jonah Mudehwe, head of Zimbabwe's National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
He spoke at a parallel gathering of regional NGOs, where Zimbabwe trade unions and rights groups are lobbying for support for a communiqué they plan to submit to leaders at this week's summit.
Details of the communique are still being finalised, but will include a demand that regional leaders press Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to address the pressing humanitarian needs in his country, Mudehwe said.
Despite government pledges to assist the displaced, only about 100 new homes have been built, he said.
Thousands in need of aid
Among the worst affected by the demolitions are the sick, the elderly, women and children, according to ActionAid, an international development agency that surveyed 23 511 people in six affected urban areas in Zimbabwe.
At least 24 332 children are not attending school, 164 602 informal traders lost their livelihoods, and 811 899 people are in need of food because of the operation, says ActionAid. It also wants a resumption of treatment for HIV/Aids sufferers whose care was interrupted by the demolitions.
Meanwhile, a petition was handed over on Monday to SADC chairperson Navin Ramgoolam, prime minister of Mauritius, demanding a Protocol for Accelerating Gender Equality in the region. It was signed by 100 civil society leaders and regional groups.
The regional bloc adopted a 1997 Declaration on Gender and Development, but the petitioners believe it has not achieved its objectives. Only South Africa and Mozambique have achieved the target of 30% female representation in parliament, for example.
They want the declaration elevated to a legally binding protocol that would include new targets, such as appointing women to 50% of decision-making positions by 2010.
- AP