HomeGeneral

FULL TEXT: Govt Response To Joint Statement To Diplomatic Missions In Zim

4 years agoTue, 20 Aug 2019 17:59:49 GMT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn
FULL TEXT: Govt Response To Joint Statement To Diplomatic Missions In Zim

The Zimbabwe government has said that it has noted the intrusive and judgmental attitude of Western States in the affairs of Zimbabwe.

The diplomatic missions had in a joint statement condemned the violation of human rights and infringement of freedoms by the Zimbabwe government.

Responding to the Joint Statement,  the Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana said:

The Government of Zimbabwe has taken note of the Joint Local Statement issued on August 20, 2019, by the Heads of Delegation of the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom together with Heads of Mission of the United States, Canada and Australia (Missions) on human rights and freedom of assembly in Zimbabwe following illegal demonstrations staged by sections of the Zimbabwean opposition on 16 August, 2019.

The Government of Zimbabwe is taken aback by the intrusive and judgmental attitude displayed by the Missions and the shocking partisanship informing the joint statement with respect to the situation in Zimbabwe.

HOT DEALS:
itel A70 -
(128GB, 3GB RAM) $89,
itel A70 - (256GB, 4GB RAM) $99
itel P40
(128GB, 4GB), (6000mAh) $99
itel P40
(64GB, 4G), (6000mAh) $93
Cash on Delivery in Harare & Bulawayo. Tinotumira kwamuri inosvika.

WhatsApp: 0783 450 793

The statement by the Missions fails to acknowledge that the High Court made a well-considered judgement on the legality of the demonstrations by the opposition MDC-Alliance after the Zimbabwe Republic Police – as the Regulatory Authority – proscribed the intended actions on August 16, through a Prohibition Order.

The effect of both the Prohibition Order and the High Court decision that upheld it was to render any and all activities associated with the planned demonstrations by MDC-Alliance on august 16, 2019 illegal.

We, therefore, note with concern that the Missions’ statement appears not to acknowledge this position of the law. A disturbing suggestion from the statement is that our Courts should not have made the judgement and that illegalities were supposed to manifest and left unchecked.

We find It quite and bewildering and an offence on the principle of the rule of law that countries represented by the Missions want so much to preach about.

It is disappointing that we are presented with a statement that ignores the importance of upholding both the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the rule of law.

Our Judiciary sits as the arbiter in situations of conflict, and in this case, mediating between a Regulatory Authority and constitutional freedoms of citizens in the face of a potentially violent and destabilizing demonstration.

A decision was made, which ought to have been respected by all.

It is instructive to note that up to the point of the Missions’ statement being issued, the Police were not in contempt of any court order regarding the issue of protests and demonstrations, neither had a suit of such nature brought forward.

For the foreign Missions to totally ignore the fact that the Zimbabwean Courts had spoken on this matter suggests a contemptuous attitude towards our institutions, including the Judiciary.

Government of Zimbabwe expects those countries committed to supporting the freedom of expression, association and assembly – seen as facets for a politically stable, economic stable and prosperous Zimbabwe – to exercise impartiality and not to unduly interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe in a way that promotes unrest and public disorder unless they harbour an ulterior motive.

“Zimbabwe remains committed to carrying out reforms necessary for addressing the political, social and economic challenges in the country. In this vein, the Government is open to engaging its partners in the international community on the best ways of implementing the reforms.

However, the Government believes that re-engagement and dialogue should be conducted in the spirit of mutual respect and should not be in any way prescriptive, coercive or manipulative.

Regarding our national dialogue, the door remains open to all political players to converge in the national interest and this process is currently underway under the aegis of the Political Players Dialogue (POLAD). This is a platform that remains open for the people of Zimbabwe to exchange ideas and craft a new inclusive political dispensation.

 

Tags

0 Comments

Leave a Comment


Generate a Whatsapp Message

Buy Phones on Credit.

More Deals
Feedback