Author: Africa Action

Apr 01, 2010

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Conference on Zimbabwe: Dare to Shape the Future (April 15-16, 2010)

Dare to Shape the Future:
April 15-16, 2010
Washington DC Kellogg Conference Hotel
800 Florida Ave N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002-3695
April 15-16, 2010

Despite continuing tensions, Zimbabwe’s year long Inclusive Government has resulted in significant economic and political changes giving great relief to long suffering Zimbabweans. Considerable as these changes are, a lot remains to be done for Zimbabwe to fully transition to a peaceful and democratic order, particularly in terms of critical political reforms and national healing. In addition, to institutionalize irreversible political reforms, key questions must be addressed in relation to how Zimbabwe’s economy long ravaged by Structural Adjustment Programs and corruption, among other factors, can be reconstructed in the interest of ordinary people.

The conference theme, ‘Dare to Shape the Future’ emphasizes thinking outside the box and encourages participants to creatively imagine and help construct a different future for Zimbabwe, moving away from destructive polarization and conflict to justice, healing and reconciliation. And from repression, exploitation and poverty to freedom, equity and development. The conference will take place within the context of the yearlong existence of the Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe and will coincide with Zimbabwe’s 30th independence anniversary. In line with the theme of daring to shape the future – the conference will pioneer a culture of inclusive dialogue among a diverse range of stakeholders of different opinions and political stripes to help forge a new culture of tolerance. Speakers from Zimbabwe will help bring a better understanding of civil society struggles on the ground and how the solidarity community can help and will help shape people centered U.S. policies at a crucial time in Zimbabwe’s history.

Read More here:
http://www.africaaction.org/conference-home.html

May 05, 2009

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Zimbabwe: Human Rights Defenders Under Attack – Act Now!

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people”.
—Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear Friends,

Today the government of Zimbabwe rearrested Jestina Mukoko and 15 others on trumped up charges of “banditry, terrorism and insurgency”. The arrest follows the appearance of Jestina and her comrades before a Harare Magistrate at which they were formally indicted remanded in custody.

We cannot be silent in the face of this outrageous attack on human rights defenders. The only crime committed by Jestina Mukoko, a long time civic leader in Zimbabwe and her co-accused is standing up against tyranny in Zimbabwe and speaking out in defense of human rights and democracy. As Martin taught us, it takes the silence of good people for abuses of this nature to persist. We call upon people of good conscience all over the world to add your voice in calling for the unconditional release of Jestina Mukoko and her comrades. Zimbabwe’s compromised courts cannot be trusted to deliver justice to activists who have been targeted and victimized for their principled stand on human rights and democracy. There is no chance for these activists getting a fair trial under the unreconstructed judicial system in Zimbabwe.

State agents abducted Jestina and others back in October last year and they suffered torture and abuse in secret detention. Following loud protests from activists in Zimbabwe and around the world, Jestina and others surfaced form secret detention only to be released to the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison where they were held for two more months and only released on bail as part of a political deal by parties to Zimbabwe’s new inclusive government. The re-arresting of Jestina Mukoko and other activists is a shame to the new inclusive government in Zimbabwe.

We call upon you to raise your voices again in support of these human rights defenders by taking the following actions:

1. Call the Zimbabwe Embassy to the U.S.*: Phone number (+1 202 332-7100) and register your protest at the detention and ill-treatment of these human rights defenders and demand their immediate release.

2. Write to President Obama– and ask him to pressure the Zimbabwe government to release Jestina Mukoko and her fellow activists

Click here to send a message to President Obama.

Reports of horrible conditions and abuse in Zimbabwe’s prisons are rampant we therefore must act with speed to secure the release of these human rights defenders.

Please act now!

In solidarity,
Staff @ Africa Action

Dec 09, 2008

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Still Missing: Leading Zimbabwe Human Rights Activist Abducted

Take Action! Phone the Embassy of Zimbabwe!

Dear Friend,

Africa Action is concerned about the whereabouts of Justina Mukoko, a prominent civil socity leader in Zimbabwe, reportedly missing for over forty-eight hours. As the Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, Jestina has been instrumental in keeping the world informed of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

We must all denounce this attempt to silence this heroine of Zimbabwe’s struggle for democracy and demand that she be released immediately and returned to her family unharmed.

PHONE THE EMBASSY OF ZIMBABWE!
202-332-7100

The abduction of Jestina Mukoko follows a protest organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that was brutally crushed by police. Over seventy workers were arrested throughout Zimbabwe and many more were severely beaten by anti-riot police, including ZCTU Secretary General, Wellington Chibhebhe. Jestina’s abduction follows a clear pattern consistent with previous abductions by government agents, particularly the Central Intelligence Organization.

TAKE ACTION: Africa Action urges the international community to call for the immediate release of Jestina Mukoko.

To support the call to release Jestina Mukoko, phone the Embassy of Zimbabwe in the U.S. at 202-332-7100 with the following message:

“Hi. I am calling with a message for the Government of Zimbabwe. I am very concerned about the recent whereabouts and safety of Jestina Mukoko, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project. As you should know, she has been missing now for over forty-eight hours. I urge the Government of Zimbabwe to take every step to ensure the safe and secure return to her family immediately.”

Visit www.africaaction.org to learn more about the crisis in Zimbabwe, and read Africa Action’s report, A Dream Deferred – the 2008 Zimbabwe Elections.

In solidarity,

The Staff @ Africa Action

Sep 05, 2008

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Time to end to U.S. HIV Travel Ban

TAKE ACTION! Completely Abolish U.S. HIV Travel Ban: Please write your Representative now!

Dear Friend,

Recently we celebrated the passage into law of H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (PL 110-293), which reauthorized the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to a tune of $48 billion over the next five years. In passing this legislation Congress lifted the 1987 ban on non-U.S. citizens living with HIV/AIDS from entering the United States, whether as visitors or immigrants. Africa Action had long campaigned against this shameful ban that did nothing to fight HIV in the U.S. but only reflected deplorable ignorance at the highest level of U.S. policy makers on how HIV is transmitted. In fact with this ban on, HIV/AIDS in the U.S. ballooned from being a localized problem to being the national crisis it is today.

Not only was the ban a terrible public health policy, it also seriously violated the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS globally. It is because of this ban that no major international HIV/AIDS conference has ever been held in the U.S. Congress’s decision to lift this ban constitutes a major victory on the part of advocates and activists campaigning against HIV/AIDS internationally.

However the struggle is still on as HIV still appears on the list of “communicable diseases of public health significance” that automatically restricts entry into the United States. Please join Africa Action Board member and Congresswoman Barbara Lee in urging Congressional representatives to co-sign a letter urging the White House to completely abolish the discriminatory travel ban.

Write your Representative now asking them to co-sign the Lee/Waxman/Berman letter to remove HIV from the list of diseases that automatically bar entry to the United States

TAKE ACTION NOW!

For more information about Africa Action campaign to end HIV/AIDS in Africa, visit www.africaaction.org
Sincerely,
Staff @ Africa Action