APPEAL TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO INTERVENE IN ZIMBABWE

To: Member Nations of the United Nations Security Council


H.E. Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad, United Sates of America
H.E. Ambassador John Sawers, United Kingdom
H.E. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, Russian Federation
H.E. Ambassador Wang Gungya, China
H.E. Ambassador Jean Maurice Ripert, France
H.E. Ambassador Dumisani Khumalo, South Africa
H.E. Ambassador John C Verbeke, Belgium
H.E. Ambassador Dr RM Marty M Natalegawa, Indonesia
H.E. Ambassador Marcello Spatafora, Italy
H.E. Ambassador Jorge Ubina, Costa Rica
H.E. Ambassador Mirjan Mladineo, Croatia
H.E. Ambassador Michel Kafendo, Burkina Faso
H.E. Ambassador Ricardo Alberto Arias, Panama
H.E. Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Viet Nam
H.E. Ambassador Gladalla A Ettalhi, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

We, the concerned friends of Zimbabwe around the world, and the undersigned people of Zimbabwe, compelled to live in exile appeal to all members of the UN Security Council to urgently address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe and find ways and means to protect the people of Zimbabwe from systematic human rights violations and social illnesses, including poverty and deteriorating health care and education.

There has been increased intimidation, harassment, politically motivated arrests, murders and restrictions imposed on members and supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) since the March 2008 Presidential elections.
Mr Mugabe was defeated in the first round of presidential elections held in March 2008. At the same time, his ruling Zanu-PF party lost its majority in parliament for the first time since independence 28 years previously. It won 97 out of 210 seats. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai, won 99 seats. Election results were announced more than a month after the vote. The Electoral Commission then announced a presidential run-off election due to be held on 27 June.ZANU (PF) party is using a network of informal detention centres to beat, torture and intimidate opposition activists and other ordinary Zimbabweans. There seems to be two aims to this organised violence:
1. To punish people who voted for the MDC
2. To intimidate to vote for ZANU (PF) in the presidential run-off
Mugabe together with his army generals has declared war on the people of Zimbabwe if the MDC wins the run-off. Please go to www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe to gain an insight into the extent of ZANU (PF) `s violence on the ordinary people of Zimbabwe. Ordinary Zimbabweans and members of the MDC have been retaliating and it will only be a matter of time before there is a civil war in the country.

The MDCs Secretary General Tendai Biti was arrested on June 12,2008 at The Harare International Airport as he returned home from South Africa ahead of the presidential run-off. He was charged with treason which carries the death sentence, for drawing up a transition document discussing changing Zimbabwe's government (a routine plan any political party would draw up to identify priorities if it were to come to power), making false statements "prejudicial to the state," for announcing election results before the official count was released. Ever since Morgan Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe to campaign for the run of, he has been detained a number of times

Four million people have fled the country with 80\% of the remaining eight million unemployed. Four million, which is 62.5\% of the unemployed, will be on food aid by the end of 2008, leaving 37.5\% to fend for themselves in a hostile environment or die.

Weary Zimbabweans are facing a new wave of price increases that will put many basic goods even further out of their reach: A loaf of bread now costs what 12 new cars did a decade ago. Independent finance houses said in an assessment in May 2008 that annual inflation rose in May to 1,063,572 percent based on prices of a basket of basic foodstuffs. Economic analysts say unless the rate of inflation is slowed, annual inflation will likely reach about 5 million percent by October.
A small pack of locally produced coffee beans cost just short of 1 billion Zimbabwe dollars. A decade ago, that sum would have bought 60 new cars. And fresh price rises were expected after the state Grain Marketing Board announced up to 25-fold increases in its prices to commercial millers for wheat and the corn meal staple.

Independent relief agencies have been banned and forced to halt distribution of aid in what is widely seen as an attempt to channel food and other assistance to those who promise to vote for Mugabe in the run-off.

World leaders appear to be leaving it up to South African president, Thabo Mbeki, whose quiet diplomacy approach is criticized by some as appeasement that has allowed Mugabe to dig in his heels, while presiding over the destruction of Zimbabwes social and economic fabric.

The policies, corruption and repressive governance of President Mugabe and his ruling ZANU (PF) party are directly responsible for the severe economic slide, growing public discontent and international isolation of the country. Mugabe presides over a nation whose economy is in tatters, where poverty and unemployment are endemic and political strife and repression commonplace. His policies are geared to short-term political expediency and the maintenance of power for himself. What was once a bread basket in Africa is now a basket case?

Given the fact that homegrown dialogue and elections in Zimbabwe are unlikely to resolve the political and economic problems it is time for the United Nations Security Council to address the situation in Zimbabwe.