An eight-member civil society delegation under Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition banner today concluded an advocacy mission to Namibia to update the people, media, civil society, political leaders and the Namibian government on the current developments in Zimbabwe.       Namibian President Pohamba.

Crisis regional co-ordinator, Dewa Mavhinga said today his organisation received a warm reception from Namibia, an important neibhour and critical player within SADC, with capacity to positively influence Zimbabwe to fully implement the SADC-agreed Global Political Agreement (GPA), which will mean economic stability, a level political field and credible, free and fair elections in the absence of fear or intimidation in Zimbabwe.

While Zimbabwe has achieved a measure of economic stability and has partially implemented GPA reforms, the key challenge remains the non-implementation of several reforms including dismantling the infrastructure of political violence, finalization of the constitutional reform process, repeal of legislation that curtails basic freedoms and the strengthening of newly established institutions like the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, he said.

Dewa also said the leadership of security forces remains extremely politicized and highly partisan as evidenced by numerous partisan political statements uttered by senior army officials in recent months.

There was a deep fear in Zimbabwe that, in the absence of sustained and credible reforms, the next elections, expected in the next twelve months, would be held under conditions of violence and intimidation that could potentially take the country backwards, he said.

"We ask that Namibia, through SADC, supports Zimbabwe’s difficult transition by urging political parties in the country to implement the various GPA  commitments leading to free and fair elections and the establishment of genuine peace and stability in Zimbabwe."