Opinion / Columnist
Save Matabeleland Coalition not part of the Matabeleland Collective
04 May 2019 at 16:04hrs | Views
Over the past few weeks there has been news and updates about the formation of the Matabeleland Collective. Whilst we as an Institute are familiar with a lot of the organizations listed in the endorsing organisations list, we were surprised to see the name of our organization listed as an endorsing Institution (number 38). We would like to inform the people of Matabeleland, Africa and the World at large that we are not in any definition a member of the Matabeleland Collective and neither have we endorsed the Compendium produced by the grouping. In actual fact the document itself reached the office of the Director and the Institute on the 19th of April 2019 and we are still to fully study it. We are yet to decide whether we are in agreement with the programme set and whether if it is something we can endorse or participate in.
The Save Matabeleland Coalition takes certain positions on issues affecting the people of Matabeleland and these are guided by the principles of Accountability, Transparency, Development, Justice, Peace and Human Rights. These informed positions on Human Rights and Development have been influenced by our long enduring track record in the engagement of policy processes at all levels including inputting in the work of the United Nations. SAMACO puts the Fundamental Human Rights of the Peoples of Matabeleland in the forefront without fear or favour and remains open to readily work with genuine stakeholders who share the same goals. Our organization promotes the Universal Principles of Human Rights as enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, the Charter on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights amongst many of the International Conventions which Zimbabwe is a State party to. Above all we are guided by the tenants of the Zimbabwean Constitution which has enshrined Fundamental Freedoms and Rights.
We acknowledge the presence of organizations working in the Matabeleland space and who through their own mandates and Articles of Association have the Right to exist and further their institutional objectives. Some of these organizations have existed for some time and have done commendable work within the Civil Society space. However we advise fellow Institutes to exercise due diligence when enabling a process that attempts to deal with a Crime Against Humanity such as the Matabeleland Genocide which cannot be localised and dealt with through shortcuts, incomplete and unguided processes that will not ensure sustainable peace.
Our organization remains open for engagement with everyone who has the best interests of the people of Matabeleland at heart. Above all SAMACO stresses that, current and future processes created to address the Matabeleland Genocide must be Victim centred and informed by International Law, Protocols, Conventions and Precedents.
Statement issued by the Save Matabeleland Coalition contact
info@savematabelelandcoalition.org savematabeleland@gmail.com
The Save Matabeleland Coalition takes certain positions on issues affecting the people of Matabeleland and these are guided by the principles of Accountability, Transparency, Development, Justice, Peace and Human Rights. These informed positions on Human Rights and Development have been influenced by our long enduring track record in the engagement of policy processes at all levels including inputting in the work of the United Nations. SAMACO puts the Fundamental Human Rights of the Peoples of Matabeleland in the forefront without fear or favour and remains open to readily work with genuine stakeholders who share the same goals. Our organization promotes the Universal Principles of Human Rights as enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, the Charter on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights amongst many of the International Conventions which Zimbabwe is a State party to. Above all we are guided by the tenants of the Zimbabwean Constitution which has enshrined Fundamental Freedoms and Rights.
We acknowledge the presence of organizations working in the Matabeleland space and who through their own mandates and Articles of Association have the Right to exist and further their institutional objectives. Some of these organizations have existed for some time and have done commendable work within the Civil Society space. However we advise fellow Institutes to exercise due diligence when enabling a process that attempts to deal with a Crime Against Humanity such as the Matabeleland Genocide which cannot be localised and dealt with through shortcuts, incomplete and unguided processes that will not ensure sustainable peace.
Statement issued by the Save Matabeleland Coalition contact
info@savematabelelandcoalition.org savematabeleland@gmail.com
Source - Save Matabeleland Coalition
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