African civil society leaders unite to call for free and fair election process in Zimbabwe

Prominent African leaders from across civil society have issued a public call for an end to violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe ahead of the presidential run-off elections at the end of the month.

In an open letter which is published today and signed by former heads of state, business leaders, academics and leading campaigners, the group calls for appropriate conditions to be met so that the second round of the presidential election is conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner that allows the citizens of Zimbabwe to express freely their political will.

Civil society groups and individual citizens are invited to counter-sign the letter at a special website http://www.zimbabwe-27June.com

The full text of the letter is as follows:

It is crucial for the interests of both Zimbabwe and Africa that the upcoming elections are free and fair.

Zimbabweans fought for liberation in order to be able to determine their own future. Great sacrifices were made during the liberation struggle. To live up to the aspirations of those who sacrificed, it is vital that nothing is done to deny the legitimate expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

As Africans we consider the forthcoming elections to be critical. We are aware of the attention of the world. More significantly we are conscious of the huge number of Africans who want to see a stable, democratic and peaceful Zimbabwe.

Consequently, we are deeply troubled by the current reports of intimidation, harassment and violence. It is vital that the appropriate conditions are created so that the Presidential run-off is conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner. Only then can the political parties conduct their election campaigning in a way that enables the citizens to express freely their political will.

In this context, we call for an end to the violence and intimidation, and the restoration of full access for humanitarian and aid agencies.

To this end it will be necessary to have an adequate number of independent electoral observers, both during the election process and to verify the results.

Whatever the outcome of the election, it will be vital for all Zimbabweans to come together in a spirit of reconciliation to secure Zimbabwe's future.

We further call upon African leaders at all levels - pan-African, regional and national - and their institutions to ensure the achievement of these objectives.

The signatories are:

Abdusalami Alhaji Abubakar Former President of Nigeria (1998-1999)
Kofi Annan Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2007), Nobel Laureate and member of The Elders
Professor Kwame Appiah Laurence S. Rockefeller University Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University
Boutros Boutros-Ghali Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (1992-1997)
Lakhdar Brahimi Former United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq and South Africa, member of The Elders
Pierre Buyoya Former President of Burundi (1987-1993, 1996-2003)
Joaquim Chissano Former President of Mozambique (1986-2005)
Achmat Dangor Author and Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
John Githongo Former Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics in Kenya
Richard Goldstone Former Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Mo Ibrahim Founder of Celtel International and Founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Sam Jonah Former Chief Executive of the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
William Kalema Chairman of the Uganda Investment Authority
Kenneth David Kaunda Former President of Zambia (1964 - 1991)
Angelique Kidjo Musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Wangari Maathai Founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Laureate
Graça Machel President of the Foundation for Community Development and member of The Elders
Thabo Cecil Makgoba Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Ketumile Masire Former President of Botswana (1980-1998)
Moeletsi Mbeki Deputy Chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs
Benjamin William Mkapa Former President of Tanzania (1995-2005)
Festus Mogae Former President of Botswana (1998-2008)
António Mascarenhas Monteiro Former President of Cape Verde (1991-2001)
Elson Bakili MuluziFormer President of Malawi (1994-2004)
Ali Hassan MwinyiFormer President of Tanzania (1985-1995)
Kumi Naidoo Secretary General of CIVICUS
Domitien Ndayizeye Former President of Burundi (2003 - 2005)
Babacar Ndiaye Former President of the African Development Bank
Youssou N'Dour Musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Njongonkulu Ndungane Former Archbishop of Cape Town and Founder of the African Monitor
Moustapha Niasse Former Prime Minister of Senegal (1983, 2000-2001)
Loyiso Nongxa Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand
Karl Offmann Former President of Mauritius (2002-2003)
Mamphela Ramphele Former Managing Director of the World Bank and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town
Jerry John Rawlings Former President of Ghana (1993-2001)
Johann Rupert Chairman of Remgro Limited
Mohammed Sahnoun Former UN/OAU Special Representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa and former Assistant Secretary-General of the OAU
Salim Ahmed Salim Former Prime Minister of Tanzania (1994-1995) and former Secretary-General of the OAU (1989-2001)
John Sentamu Archbishop of York
Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo Former President of Benin (1991-1996)
Miguel Trovoada Former President of São Tomé and Príncipe (1991-2001)
Desmond TutuNobel Laureate and Chairman of The Elders
Cassam Uteem Former President of Mauritius (1992-2002)
Zwelinzima Vavi General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions
Joseph Sinde Warioba Former Prime Minister of Tanzania (1985-1990)

• All the signatories are African and have added their signatures in a personal capacity rather than in their organisational role
• The public are invited to endorse the letter at the following website: http://www.zimbabwe-27June.com
• This is an African initiative supported by an African Foundation, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org