Addressing journalists here Tuesday, Westcott said the situation in Zimbabwe remained "fragile" despite "significant" progress having been made on the economic and political fronts since the launch of a transitional coalition government by the feuding parties in 2009.
"Elections remain the best way of resolving these issues," Westcott said at the end of a two-day visit.
Wescott, who is the managing director for Africa for the European External Action Service in the EU met President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Finance Minister and MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and civil society leaders.
Civil society leaders expressed serious concerns about failure by the Inclusive Government to implement the 2008 Global Political Agreement power-sharing deal in full.
"I had lunch with civil society. They have serious concerns about some elements of the GPA…especially on security sector reforms," Westcott said.
He said the EU was hoping there would be elections in Zimbabwe that would be "verifiable, free and fair". He expressed surprise about Mugabe's decision to bar Western observers from the polls.
"I can imagine there's nothing anybody would want to hide," the diplomat said.
Wescott said he had met Mpofu and the two discussed what needed to be done to ensure Zimbabwe complied with its obligations under the Kimberly Process Certification System to eneble the country to sell its diamonds.
He confirmed that Mugabe had raised the issue of land reform but no substantial discussions took place on the matter.
Post published in: News