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

H.E. Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Wangari Maathai among those calling for an end to violence and intimidation in the run up to June 27 presidential run-off Friday, June 13^th 2008 – Prominent African leaders from across civil society are today issuing 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 says:  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 EldersProfessor Kwame Appiah Laurence S. Rockefeller University Professor of Philosophy at Princeton UniversityBoutros 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 EldersPierre Buyoya Former President of Burundi (1987-1993, 1996-2003)Joaquim Chissano Former President of Mozambique (1986-2005)John Githongo Former Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics in KenyaRichard Goldstone Former Judge of the Constitutional Court of South AfricaMo Ibrahim Founder of Celtel International and Founder of the Mo Ibrahim FoundationSam Jonah Former Chief Executive of the Ashanti Goldfields CorporationAngelique Kidjo Musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador    Wangari Maathai Founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel LaureateGraça Machel President of the Foundation for Community Development and member of The EldersKetumile 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 Muluzi Former President of Malawi (1994-2004)Ali Hassan Mwinyi Former President of Tanzania (1985-1995)Kumi Naidoo Secretary General of CIVICUSBabacar Ndiaye Former President of the African Development BankYoussou  N'Dour Musician and UNICEF Goodwill AmbassadorNjongonkulu Ndungane Former Archbishop of Cape Town and Founder of the African MonitorMoustapha Niasse Former Prime Minister of Senegal (1983, 2000-2001)Loyiso Nongxa Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the WitwatersrandKarl 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 TownJerry John Rawlings Former President of Ghana (1993-2001)Johann Rupert Chairman of Remgro LimitedMohammed Sahnoun Former UN/OAU Special Representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa and former Assistant Secretary-General of the OAUSalim Ahmed Salim Former Prime Minister of Tanzania (1994-1995) and former Secretary-General of the OAU (1989-2001)John Sentamu Archbishop of YorkNicéphore Dieudonné Soglo Former President of Benin (1991-1996)Miguel Trovoada Former President of São Tomé and Príncipe (1991-2001)Desmond Tutu Nobel Laureate and Chairman of The EldersCassam Uteem Former President of Mauritius (1992-2002)Zwelinzima Vavi General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade UnionsJoseph Sinde Warioba Former Prime Minister of Tanzania (1985-1990)