The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) have this week both pledged to support plans for an election roadmap for Zimbabwe, drafted by the South African Development Community (SADC).
In a move likely to further anger the West-hating ZANU PF, both the EU and UKs Parliaments this week resolved to support SADCs efforts, while condemning the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe. Britains Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Howell, told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the UK, together with other partners, was working towards ensuring a credible election in Zimbabwe.
We are working with international partners, particularly the South African Development Community, to support their efforts to create an election roadmap leading to credible and properly monitored elections, Howell said. Howell said effective election monitoring was critical to avoid a repeat of the violence and irregularities of the 2008 elections, which eventually led to the drafting of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) that formed the unity government.
The UK stands ready to assist in any election monitoring effort, including through multilateral partners such as the EU or Commonwealth. However, any such efforts would have to be in response to an invitation by the Government of Zimbabwe, he said.
The European parliament meanwhile on Thursday resolved to step up pressure on Robert Mugabe to halt human rights violations in Zimbabwe. The EU also resolved to encourage Mugabe to adhere to the terms of GPA, through engagement with SADC.
The EU Parliament also welcomed the SADC communiqu issued by the regional blocs security organ, the Troika, in Zambia last week. European lawmakers also resolved to step up cooperation with Southern African countries, especially South Africa, to prevent intimidation related to upcoming elections in Zimbabwe. The Brussels based Parliament went on to say in a statement that it does not think an early election would resolve Zimbabwes crisis, because current conditions are not conducive to a successful poll.
EU parliamentarians also condemned the recent surge of rights abuses in Zimbabwe, including the persecution of MDC ministers. The Parliament also insisted that the Zimbabwean people should be given freedom of expression and of assembly, that all intimidation of politicians and civil society activists should cease and that every elected representative, irrespective of political persuasion, as well as NGOs, political activists, the press and ordinary citizens should be able to freely express their opinions without fear of violent persecution, arbitrary imprisonment of torture.
The full resolution from the EU parliament can be read by following this link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2011-0159+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN
Western involvement in SADCs plans will be strongly resisted by ZANU PF and Mugabe, who have on every occasion slammed Western states for imposing targeted, restrictive sanctions on individuals in the regime. The EU has insisted it will not drop the measures until there is significant change in Zimbabwe.
Political analyst Professor John Makumbe told SW Radio Africa on Friday that ZANU PF will use the resolutions by the UK and EU to further criticise SADC. He explained that ZANU PF will accuse SADC of implementing a Western agenda, and of being used as a tool of the imperialists.
But none of this will save his hide, Makumbe added. The mood in Zimbabwe is celebratory because SADC has finally said the right thing. SADC now needs all the support it can get so it keeps doing the right thing.
Post published in: News