Zimbabwe Post-Election Climate

The Office of the Africa Regional Director of the Open Society Institute hosted a reception and panel discussion on the post-election climate in Zimbabwe.

Speakers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the International Crisis Group discussed the current political and human rights situation on the ground, looked at potential outcome scenarios, and made recommendations regarding the various policy options available to resolve the crisis.

The panelists discussed reports of violence on the ground—including reprisals on opposition party supporters—but noted that the recent crackdown on researchers and reporters in the country has made it difficult to verify the level or extent of the current violence. Fearing that the situation could quickly deteriorate, the speakers called for advocacy efforts focused on Zimbabwe's regional neighbors, the African Union, and the UN Security Council.

Speakers:

• Akwe Amosu, Senior Policy Analyst for Africa, Open Society Institute (introduction and moderator)
• Georgette Gagnon, Human Rights Watch
• Fabienne Hara, International Crisis Group
• Otto Saki, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Photo: An electoral officials watches as the last ballots are cast at a polling station in Chinamhora, near Harare, Zimbabwe, Saturday, March 29, 2008.(AP Photo/Mujahid Safodien)