Zimbabwe: democracy must prevail, say MEPs

In a resolution on Zimbabwe supported by five EP political groups but not the Socialists, Parliament calls for the immediate release of all the original results of the recent elections and for the democratic wishes of the Zimbabwean people be respected. Other African and international actors must play their part too, say MEPs.

 

In the wake of the elections of 29 March, the resolution “insists that the democratic wishes of the Zimbabwean people be respected” and “urges all those who wish to participate in the future of Zimbabwe to cooperate with the forces of democratic change”.

 

It “calls on the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission immediately to release all the original election results”. A similar request has been made by the South African Development Community (SADC). In addition, the Zimbabwean Government is urged “to honour its own commitments to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law” as a signatory to various international treaties.

 

The post-electoral political violence against supporters of opposition parties is strongly condemned, as is the arrest of foreign journalists. MEPs call for the lifting of all restrictions on freedom of the press and assembly and for the release of the 36 citizens arrested in the course of a peaceful protest against the delayed publication of results.

 

The role of the international community

 

Parliament welcomes the recent acknowledgement by South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party that Zimbabwe has entered a ’state of crisis’ and “trusts that this will lead to positive action”. It also calls on the African Union to help resolve the crisis.

 

South African dockers are commended for refusing to unload arms bound for Zimbabwe’s security forces from the Chinese cargo ship An Yue Jiang. The resolution calls on all SADC countries to refuse to unload the cargo. The Chinese Government is urged to cease arms exports to Zimbabwe and to order the return of the An Yue Jiang to Chinese waters.

 

Lastly Parliament calls on the EU Council “to ensure that all Member States rigorously apply existing restrictive measures” but also to accelerate preparation of the emergency measures that will be put in place as soon as the democratic transformation in Zimbabwe has taken place.