Geoffrey Van Orden MBE MEP, who has spearheaded the European Parliament’s campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe, was cautiously optimistic about developments.
"Just as in Burma we have responded to a change of heart and real progress towards democratic change, so we must now recognise the possibility of positive developments in Zimbabwe. We have always said that restrictive measures, aimed solely at a governing elite that has trampled on the people of Zimbabwe, could be eased once there was serious change. There are indications that this will now happen and we need to be prepared to move accordingly. If there is any backward step then restrictive measures can be re-imposed and intensified.
"The adoption of a new constitution is a first step. The real test will be the elections that follow. The international community will expect the electoral preparations and the elections themselves to be carried out with scrupulous fairness, properly supervised to give international assurance. I remain concerned that those with a vested interest in the Mugabe regime and exploitation of Zimbabwe's resources for their own benefit will try and ensure their continued grasp on power.
There is no reason why all those genuinely committed to the future freedom and prosperity of the people of Zimbabwe, regardless of past political links, should not now seize the opportunity to begin to bring Zimbabwe back into the international community of democratic nations," said Geoffrey Van Orden, the
Conservative Defence and Security Spokesman. Over many years he has initiated the European Parliament’s tough resolutions on Zimbabwe. He has been banned from entering Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe.
Post published in: Africa News
It would be a great pity if the EU was to base its decision to lift the sanctions or not on something as inconsequential as the referendum on the new constitution. The proposed new constitution will do nothing to stop Mugabe and Zanu PF using violence in future elections or will it stop Mugabe behaving as he has always done – as a tyrant. Mugabe and Zanu PF saw to it that the new constitution was to their liking or it would have never seen the light of day. As for MDC, they have always done everything to appease Mugabe, and once again they have done just that.
MDC is desperate to have the new constitution approved although they know it is nothing but a pumkin full of millipedes. This is the one thing the party has to show for its fours in the GNU. Zanu PF could careless whether approved the new constitution or not. Either way the party will still use violence to win the next elections, and that is all they care about.
The up coming referendum will not prove that Zimbabwe is now a democracy and therefore it is nonsense to use that as the yardstick for democratic reforms!
It would be a great pity if the EU was to base its decision to lift the sanctions or not on something as inconsequential as the referendum on the new constitution. The proposed new constitution will do nothing to stop Mugabe and Zanu PF using violence in future elections or will it stop Mugabe behaving as he has always done – as a tyrant. Mugabe and Zanu PF saw to it that the new constitution was to their liking or it would have never seen the light of day. As for MDC, they have always done everything to appease Mugabe, and once again they have done just that.
MDC is desperate to have the new constitution approved although they know it is nothing but a pumkin full of millipedes. This is the one thing the party has to show for its fours in the GNU. Zanu PF could careless whether approved the new constitution or not. Either way the party will still use violence to win the next elections, and that is all they care about.
The up coming referendum will not prove that Zimbabwe is now a democracy and therefore it is nonsense to use that as the yardstick for democratic reforms!