Olivia Mitchell
Question:95 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the conduct of the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7624/05]
View answerTuesday, 8 March 2005
Questions (66, 67, 68, 69)
Trevor Sargent
Question:107 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which Ireland will respond to the likely eventuality that the elections on 31 March 2005 in Zimbabwe will not be in accordance with international and SADC principles for the holding of free and fair elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7745/05]
View answerTrevor Sargent
Question:119 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland’s and the EU’s role in election observation in view of the fact that the Zimbabwean Government has silenced another independent voice (details supplied) on 1 March 2005 and that this represents further evidence that the 31 March 2004 elections can be neither free nor fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7744/05]
View answer
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:256 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Zimbabwe with particular reference to progress toward democratic principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7995/05]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 107, 119 and 256 together.
The parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe on 31 March will represent an important test in determining the willingness of the Zimbabwean Government to effect genuine political reforms and improve the situation in that country as regards democracy, good governance and respect for human rights. Ireland and our EU partners believe firmly that, for the parliamentary elections at the end of this month to be free and fair, they must be held in accordance with the principles and guidelines on democratic elections adopted by the Southern African Development Community, SADC, summit in Mauritius last August.
The Zimbabwean Government initially stated it would meet these requirements. To date, however, there has been little sign of such compliance, such as through the lifting of repressive legislation and the opening up of political space to opposition parties in Zimbabwe. If anything, the political and human rights situation has deteriorated in recent months, with the passing of repressive legislation imposing severe restrictions on the operations of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, particularly those in the human rights and humanitarian fields. Ireland, both nationally and as part of the EU, has made known our concerns to the Zimbabwean authorities regarding the possible implications of this new legislation governing humanitarian organisations operating in Zimbabwe. These concerns have also been raised at EU level with the other members of SADC.
The absence of any progress towards meeting benchmarks on promotion of democracy and increasing respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe led the European Union on 15 February 2005 to renew its common position imposing targeted sanctions against members of the Zimbabwean ruling elite. Developments since then do not give rise to any greater grounds for optimism that fair and equitable conditions are being created for a free and transparent election to take place.
Members of the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, continue to be harassed and subject to state violence and arrest for attempting to campaign. The Weekly News newspaper in Bulawayo was banned by the Zimbabwean Government on 25 February, bringing to four the number of newspapers forcibly shut down by the government in the past two years. The repressive Public Order and Security Act, POSA, continues to be used to ban MDC meetings and prevent free political activity. Notwithstanding such intimidatory actions, the MDC has, albeit with some reluctance, decided to contest the election. I welcome this decision by the MDC, taken in such arduous and difficult circumstances.
The Zimbabwean Government has belatedly issued invitations in the past two weeks to 32 countries, as well as a number of regional organisations, including the African Union, AU, and SADC, to observe the forthcoming elections. No EU country has been invited to observe the elections. Russia is the only European country to receive such an invitation. The belatedly issued invitations are a breach of the SADC guidelines adopted last August, since these stipulate that observers must be invited 90 days before polling day.
The Zimbabwean Government also failed to facilitate a top level legal SADC pre-election mission visiting the country. The EU is continuing to engage closely with SADC and key member states such as South Africa, urging them to use all the influence they have to ensure that Zimbabwe complies to the fullest extent possible with the SADC guidelines in advance of the election. The EU is also encouraging SADC to report objectively on the conduct of the elections, including by indicating clearly where the Zimbabwean Government has failed to comply in substance or in spirit with the SADC guidelines.
In the limited time available before the elections, Ireland, along with our EU partners, will continue to urge the Zimbabwean Government to introduce those political reforms which are necessary if the parliamentary elections are to be held in full accordance with the SADC guidelines. Drawing on any election observation report produced by SADC and other organisations such as the AU, and the reports of EU resident diplomats, Zimbabwean and international NGOs, and civil society, Ireland and its EU partners will form their own judgment in due course as to the conduct of the elections and what implications this may have for the EU's future relations with Zimbabwe.