Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa

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International political processes leading to the "Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa" can be traced back to the year 1986. In this year the Organisation of African Unity, which had accepted that one of its responsibilities, was decolonisation, the end of Apartheid, and all forms of racism, established the 'Ad hoc standing committee of Heads of States and Government on the question of Southern Africa' as a front against Apartheid. The strategy of the OAU was to isolate South Africa and put pressure on its government to open negotiations with liberation movement leaders. This strategy did not accept President Pieter W Botha's reforms as legitimate and concluded that transformation of South Africa's constitutional order was the only solution viable for South Africa. Moreover, African leaders acknowledged that a military solution for South Africa was also not viable. They feared that such a measure would cause more destructive cross border raids on her neighbours. In 1989, the OAU Ad Hoc standing committee on Apartheid adopted the Harare Declaration stating that:

"We recognise the reality that permanent peace and stability in Southern Africa can only be achieved when the system of apartheid in South Africa has been liquidated and South Africa transformed into a united, democratic and non-racial country. We therefore reiterate that all the necessary measures should be adopted now, to bring a speedy end to the apartheid system, in the interest of all the people of Southern Africa, our continent and the world at large."

The efforts of the Ad Hoc Standing Committee bore fruits when the Harare Declaration was adopted by the Non Aligned Movement of states and later forming the basis for the UNGA "Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa", which laid out a programme of action that South Africa should follow. The declaration came after the National Party adopted new constitutional principles and Five Year Programme stating that Black people will be allowed to vote after five years. However, the NP did not confine to anything specific except for general promises of negotiations without stating with whom. The declaration sent a strong signal to the NP that it would not accept reforms and amendments of the Apartheid regime, but transformation only. It went as far as laying down guidelines and programme of action for a new constitutional order. Moreover, the declaration assured liberation leaders that these NP promises will not be treated as genuine reforms. In 1993, the "Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa" , was recalled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which reiterated that:

"Reiterates the call contained in the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in southern Africa for, inter alia , the unconditional release of all political prisoners and detainees by the Government of South Africa, the removal of all troops from the townships, the repeal of the remaining legislation designed to circumscribe political activity and the cessation of all political trials and executions".

After South Africa had strayed from the negotiation table and had refused to abide by international principles for establishing truly democratic government. Since its inception in 1989, the declaration became an international guiding force for political transformation. These principles became a reality when all South Africans voted for a new constitutional order envisaged in the 1989 declaration.

Click here to read an article about Zambia's role.

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