Pan-African movement calls for peace, support among Africans
By Emmanuel Mogbede
The Africans Rising, a Pan-African movement, has called on Africans to support one another to advance the development of the continent in the interest of its people.
Ms Ann Lorna, Communications and Media Lead, Africans Rising, made the call in a statement in Abuja.
The statement which was jointly issued by Africans Rising and some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Africa, condemned the human rights violations and the targeting of individuals and repression in Zimbabwe.
It reminded the Zimbabwean government of its domestic and international human rights obligations, saying signatures from close to 50 CSOs across Africa had been generated condemning the development.
It added that Zimbabwe’s alleged state-sponsored repression, including abductions, arbitrary arrests, and unjust denial of bail, was causing alarm among human rights and CSOs.
The statement said the crackdown on the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) exemplified one of such repression.
This, it said, was especially as armed police violently disrupted a peaceful gathering, subjecting unarmed students to beatings and arrests.
It said over 77 democracy activists were currently in pre-trial detention with some being severely beaten and tortured.
It alleged that the judiciary and law enforcement agencies were being armed to prosecute and persecute political opponents, signalling an alarming escalation of domestic repression.
“Extra-judicial killings have also increased, with several opposition members abducted, tortured, and killed following August 2023 elections.
“Recent death threats from Zimbabwe’s Information Minister accusing opposition and CSOs of planning to instigate chaos and subversive activities exacerbate fears,” the statement said.
It added that the escalation of the development was particularly worrisome because of the forthcoming 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit scheduled for Aug.17.
It decried the situation,stressing that it was about time Africans began to support themselves.
“Human rights and civil society organisations across the African continent are deeply concerned about the severe restriction of civic space and the systematic erosion of fundamental freedoms in Zimbabwe.
“This is happening at a time when Africans Rising will be hosting the largest gathering of people of African descent to deliberate on major worrying issues facing Africans across the continent and in the diaspora,”it said.
It said the assembly to be held between Aug. 29 and 31, in Accra, Ghana, had the theme: “Towards Pan-African Solidarity: United We Stand, Divided We Fall”.
According to the statement, the theme was a call for Africans everywhere to rise up and support one another in times of distress and explore the systemic inter-relations on issues affecting Africa.
It added that the assembly was aimed at developing solutions, campaigns, and processes that were intersectional in addressing issues affecting the continent.(https:newsatlarge.ng)