End Zim violence - Alliance

2008-05-11 21:03

Johannesburg - The African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance partners called on Sunday for an end to all violence and harassment of civilians in Zimbabwe in the aftermath of the March 29 elections.

The meeting, attended by senior members of the ANC, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), was organised to forge a better working relationship between the partners.

The alliance said in a statement after their two-day meeting in Midrand, outside Johannesburg: "We call for an end to all violence and harassment of the civilian population.

"We urge the leadership and the people of Zimbabwe assisted by SADC (Southern African Development Community) to work together to find a lasting solution to this crisis," it added

The meeting also "expressed grave concern at the worsening situation in that country, including the arrest of the president and secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions," it said.

Participants pledged to "mobilise solidarity for the Zimbabwean people in our country and the region".

Zuma gets major support

They also pledged to tackle the rising cost of food and fuel, as well as unemployment, poverty and inequality, crime, and the country's electricity crisis. They said they would work together for the 2009 elections in South Africa.

The meeting reaffirmed its support for the president of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, a presidential hopeful who is facing corruption charges.

"We will not only be accompanying him to court, but to the Union Buildings as the next president of South Africa," said the statement.

Zuma goes on trial in August on 16 counts of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering.

- SAPA