Activist Ends 21-Day Hunger Strike

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Leading South African Political Activist Ends 21-Day Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Zimbabwean People

Friday, March 06, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Nomboniso Gasa, chair of South Africa’s Commission for Gender Equality, ended on Mar. 4 a 21-day hunger strike that sought to draw international attention to Zimbabwe's deteriorating humanitarian crisis and the detention of political prisoners.

The South African political activist survived only on water for the duration of the three-week hunger strike, which began on February 11. The hunger strike was staged as a symbolic act of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as the country experiences massive food shortages, a deadly cholera epidemic, and ongoing political turmoil, despite the signing of the Global Political Agreement and the formation of the unity government.

The hunger strike is part of an international solidarity campaign, “Save Zimbawe Now!” to mobilize public awareness and build pressure on Southern African governments to influence the Zimbabwean government to restore dignity, human and democratic rights to its people.

“I’ve always been involved in the political struggle since the anti-apartheid movement and am acutely aware of the solidarity role of others in bringing about change,” said Ms. Gasa. “I and others in the solidarity campaign are horrified that the South African government and international community are not adequately responding to the humanitarian crisis, torture and abuse of political detainees, and an economy spiraling out of control.”
 
Ms. Gasa is in New York for the UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting. She used her portion of the hunger strike relay as a platform to highlight violence against women and the unique humanitarian challenges faced by Zimbabwe women.

In mid-Feb., Gasa spent several days at a refugee camp for Zimbabwe refugees on the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe where she witnessed deplorable conditions and thousands waiting in limbo on whether to return to their country.

Ms. Gasa completed the second leg of the relay fast and hunger strike campaign from CIVICUS Honorary President Kumi Naidoo. She will hand over the third leg of the relay fast to Dumisa Ntsebeza, a distinguished human rights lawyer and member of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tens of thousands of activists around the world have joined the fast relay in various ways as an act of solidarity.

The campaign is urging the United Nations and international community to step up pressure on the Zimbabwean government to end the political passé, strengthen relief efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis, and to release political prisoners.

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