West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF),
STATEMENT ON THE POLITICAL CRISES IN ZIMBABWE
Lagos, 26th April 2008
Upon a critical review of the political crises emanating from the
inordinate delay in the release of the results of March 29th, 2008
Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe,
we the representatives of the West African Civil Society Forum
(WACSOF), West African Bar Association (WABA) and the West African
Human Rights Forum (WAHRF) in partnership with the Open Society
Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) wish to observe the following:
1. For some time now, Zimbabwe has been embroiled in serious
socio-economic and political crises, which have been compounded by
the refusal of President Robert Mugabe to relinquish power.
2. The independence of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (ZEC) has
been compromised by the unwholesome interference of government in its
statutory functions.
3. The political climate has been charged and made unsuitable for
popular participation in governance and development.
We hereby make the following declarations:
1. Demand for the immediate release of the results of the elections
as held on 29th March 2008.
2. Urge the winner of the elections to form a government that
expresses the will of the people.
3. Call on the government of Zimbabwe to stop State-sponsored
hostilities against the people and the human rights community.
4. Demand the release of all those who have been arrested in the wake
of post-election demonstrations.
5. Commend the Workers' Unions in the Southern African region for
their steadfastness in disallowing the importation of arms and
ammunitions into Zimbabwe.
6. Commend the maturity of the people of Zimbabwe in ensuring that
the situation has not degenerated into violent conflicts.
7. Call on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and
the African Union to rise up and condemn the subversion of democracy
and the rule of law by President Robert Mugabe.
8. Call on the peoples of West Africa to identify and stand with the
people of Zimbabwe in defense of their democratic rights.
We have thus commenced a programme of activities to sensitize and
mobilize popular support of West Africans to intervene constructively
in establishing democracy in Zimbabwe.

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Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222  (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue