SADC troops 'needed' in Zim
2008-05-22 15:24
Johannesburg - A Southern African Development Community (SADC) peacekeeping force should be deployed in Zimbabwe during the run-up to the June 27 elections, a coalition group said on Thursday.
In a statement, the South African Council of Churches, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the Treatment Action Committee said the SADC peace force would protect Zimbabweans and the integrity of the electoral process.
"We call on President Mwanawasa and the SADC to secure an immediate presence on the ground in Zimbabwe in a determined effort to stop the violence, protect the people of Zimbabwe and to protect the integrity of the electoral process," the statement read.
The group said it was necessary for the SADC to pressurise Zimbabwe to allow for independent observers before, during and after the run-off elections.
The group said the escalating violence in Zimbabwe and the arrival of the Chinese arms shipment, indicated that the situation was " getting grimmer by the day".
The group said if the South African government had facilitated the safe passage of the shipment, against the wishes of South Africans, it was "an assault upon the dignity of South Africa's people".
The shipment, of assault rifles, ammunition, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds ordered by Zimbabwe, had reportedly arrived in Zimbabwe.
On the xenophobic attacks that had occurred in South Africa, the group attributed the attacks to a lack of political leadership at all levels, spiritual alienation,' and a lack of solidarity and compassion.
The group said the targeting of Zimbabweans in the attacks showed that their problems at home had become a regional crisis.
- SAPA