Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 April 2005
197 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s views on the recent elections in Zimbabwe; the extent and nature of Irish diplomatic relations with President Mugabe and his regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13708/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have already outlined in a statement issued on 1 April 2005 the serious concerns of the Government regarding the conduct of the parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe on 31 March 2005. The high percentage of voters turned away because their names did not appear on the electoral register, which is estimated at between 10% and15%, as well as the apparent use of postal votes in a concerted manner to influence the outcome in certain constituencies, made it difficult to conclude that the election could properly be regarded as free and fair.
Information which has become available since the election, including the report of the Irish ambassador who travelled to Zimbabwe to observe the elections, has only served to reinforce the assessment that the elections were not free and fair. An EU declaration to this effect was issued on 5 April. To date, none of those countries or organisations invited by the Zimbabwean Government to send external observers, including South Africa, the African Union and the SADC, Southern African Development Community, has been able to make an unambiguous pronouncement that the elections were free and fair. The principal opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, has drawn attention to major irregularities and discrepancies between the initial and final estimates of votes cast in certain constituencies. It has announced that it will challenge certain of these results in court.
Ireland, in its diplomatic relations, recognises states rather than governments. The Irish ambassador to South Africa is also accredited to Zimbabwe. He and members of his diplomatic staff pay regular visits there, including for the purposes of meeting with members of the Irish community as well as the Zimbabwean authorities and a wide range of political, religious and humanitarian contacts. I already informed the Dáil on 24 March of my intention to appoint an honorary consul general in Zimbabwe to improve the level of consular service which we provide to our nationals in Zimbabwe.
