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The horrific details regarding the mass rapes of Zimbabwean opposition supporters in a report released on Thursday by the New York-based advocacy group, Aids-Free World is yet another example of the critical need for an alternative to the failing GPA.

According to the report, entitled "Electing to Rape", youth militia and liberation war veterans amongst others, working for president Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF political party carried out a campaign of rape and torture of opposition supporters ahead of the June 2008 elections, presumably as an intimidation measure. A total of 380 rapes are documented in the report

The report which is based on testimonies from 70 survivors states that most (65; 93%) of the women either held positions as officers within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) or described themselves as "active" members of the MDC. Of great concern is the reported warning that Zanu-PF is "already gearing up for its next campaign of sexual horror in future elections."

What is damning about this report is that it provides concrete evidence of the extent to which Robert Mugabe is willing to go to ensure he and his Zanu-PF party remains in power. The DA believes that the fact that he quite strategically orchestrates violence and abuse against his own people also shows that the current rather shaky GPA is not a feasible alternative to creating a constitutional democracy in Zimbabwe. Mugabe and Zanu-PF has, and continues to disregard and violate the GPA. The fact that three main political parties have still not reported any concrete agreements in the current negotiations in spite of President's Zuma's task team facilitating the process, also suggests that real change is not happening any time soon. This makes the need to step up action in the country paramount.

Even more damning is the fact that the report criticises South Africa for its failure to take action against Robert Mugabe even though it is regionally, the country in the best position to do so.

For the DA these latest reports only serve to reinforce our call for South Africa and President Zuma in particular, to take stronger action with regard to the abhorrent conditions in Zimbabwe. As Zimbabwe's neighbours we can no longer justify our "politically correct" silent diplomatic approach to Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF supporters, especially in the light of such harsh realities as revealed in this report.

The DA therefore once again calls on President Zuma to make use of our proposed "Road Map to Peace and Democracy" to finally bring the country closer to becoming a constitutional democracy. This is essential in ensuring political stability in the region.

In his address at the closing ceremony of the 16 days of activism campaign on no violence against women and children yesterday, President Zuma said "government is firmly committed to lead a coordinated effort to sustain the campaign into its next decade. This campaign has increased awareness of the detriments of violence on women, children and society as a whole." In light of this report, we believe that this should extend to our neighbouring countries as well.

With Zimbabweans set to face another bleak festive season due to political meltdown, economic crisis and unacceptable political harassment, South Africa can no longer continue turning a blind eye to the people in Zimbabwe. Jacob Zuma must now finally put Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF on terms by unequivocally stating that their human rights abuses and political excesses can no longer be tolerated.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King, JR