Peaceful, transparent, credible election Zimbabwe 2012 Campaign

My name is Ephraim Ntlamo, 18-year old Zimbabwean. I’m the founder of the Refugee VI foundation a project with a mission to create a community among young unaccompanied refugee children living in South- Africa (www.refugee6foundation.org).

I will be embarking on a walk from Cape-Town to Pretoria campaigning for a peaceful, free and fear elections 2012 in Zimbabwe. On the mission that will take us months of walking, I shall be accompanied by Mr. Kachinga Nsanile (25) a Zambian national whose wish is to see Zimbabwe hold a peaceful and credible election without bloodshed. He believe that Zimbabweans should be inspired by his country which held free and fair non violent polls this year and hope Zimbabwe will follow in the footsteps.

The Cape-Town to Pretoria walk will be dedicated to all Zimbabweans who have lost their lives, injured due to political violence that swept the nation, before, during and after the 2008 elections. We hope that with the message we shall carry along on this journey to Pretoria, the throw back to the 2008 polls that were marked by killings, horrendous injuries, electoral fraud, manipulation and selective application of the law in favour of individuals or political party shouldn’t be tolerated in 2012. Our walk therefore pledges to all Zimbabweans to be tolerant, respectful and maintain peace despite their political differences because nothing is of value as precious life.

The campaign will resume on the 18th of November 2011 (12pm) at Cape-Town stadium to 23 January 2012. We chosen the Cape-Town stadium as our start up point because the site is inspirational, some doubted the stadium would meet the deadline and host the World Cup games, yet it did therefore in our view the stadium landmark is of hope that any situation can be made possible, provided people work together as one. If so free, fair and peaceful elections are possible in Zimbabwe. We pledge to the Southern-African community to voice their message in solidarity with political reforms in Zimbabwe.

During the 1456km campaign we aim to get a million people sign the petition supporting a free and fair election 2012 that will comply with SADC facilitated election road map. Half a million of petition collected shall be delivered at the office of president Jacob Zuma, the chief mediator and facilitator for the Zimbabwe crisis. The other half a million shall be delivered at the Angolan embassy which chairs SADC’s regional politics, defense and security.

On the petition we demands the following be addressed:
We call upon all political parties in Zimbabwe to be tolerate, work towards peace and respect the rights of its citizens before, during and after the election 2012.
We call for a free, fair and peaceful election 2012, where by voters will be able to choose the leader of their choice without fear or being intimidated.
We call upon Zimbabwe’s security forces, military, police and intelligence services to stop the persistent arbitrary arrest of political activists and journalists in the work of violation of individual human rights.
We call upon President Jacob Zuma the chief mediator and facilitator of the Zimbabwean crisis together with SADC to take necessary urgent steps to ensure the political environment in Zimbabwe allows for a peaceful, transparent and credible election in 2012 and beyond.

We call upon SADC, the African Union (AU) to urgently deploy peacekeepers and monitors to keep spotlight on Zimbabwe and prevent state sponsored violence; Zimbabwe lack an independent and professional police force to maintain law and order without applying selective law that favour individuals or individual political party.

Why should be people behind us and sign the petition
Zimbabwe’s political crisis has the potential to divide the region therefore disturb regional development and bring instability to the whole region.

Because of Zimbabwe’s economic woes, Zimbabweans young and old cross the borders to neighboring countries mostly as illegal immigrants putting the concerned governments under immense budget pressure leading to budget defects.

Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has triggered the raise in xenophobia, racism and ethnic divisions.
Because of the economic problem that Zimbabwe is currently, security departments such as the police have been resource less, giving organized crime syndicates an advantage.

Young people desperate for jobs and a better life have become an easy prey for human traffickers, a serious security problem for the entire region and making it difficulty combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Zimbabwe’s problem is our problem all; therefore, there is a need that we all become part of the solution.

People who wish to join the walk can contact me on this number +27837148014 or e-mail (ntamukevx@gmail.com ) and those who wish to sign the petition online can do so through the face book page ( peaceful, transparent/ credible election Zimbabwe 20) or on twitter (www.childmigrant.wordpress.com)

Thank you.
Ephraim Ntlamo
0837148014