adminpolitics.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia told The Herald last Friday that the 27-member bloc was concerned with some statements made by senior army officers.
His statements dovetail with the position of the MDC-T as pronounced by its leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai who claimed last week that there would be no elections before security sector reforms.
“The security services must observe strict political neutrality in any democracy. The Global Political Agreement clearly stipulates that ‘State organs and institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties.
“We agree with Sadc that statements by senior army officers suggesting that they would support one political party or would not recognise certain winners of a democratic election are therefore of concern,” said Ambassador Dell’Ariccia.
Mr Tsvangirai who was on a regional tour to convince the region that Zimbabwe was not yet ready for harmonised elections made similar statements last week.
Ambassador Dell’Ariccia claimed that key provisions of the GPA that guaranteed credible elections had not yet been implemented.
“Concerns remain.
“Key provisions in the GPA and in the roadmap for elections that would ensure credible elections are yet to be implemented,” he said.
This is despite the fact that all issues cited as outstanding in the GPA were collapsed in the draft constitution that was endorsed during the referendum and will become effective once the new supreme law becomes operational.
On how the elections could be free and fair considering that the EU had maintained the illegal sanctions on President Mugabe and other Government and Zanu-PF officials, Ambassador Dell’Ariccia said: “The EU has no measures on any political party, but on a few individuals. Some may belong to a political party, others not: this is not the criteria. The EU will never favour one party over any other.
“We will indeed recognise and work with any government formed as a result of transparent, peaceful and credible elections.”
Last month the EU removed 81 individuals and companies from the sanctions list, but retained President Mugabe and the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, senior army officials and two companies — the Zimbabwe Mining Development Cooperation and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.
Ambassador Dell’Ariccia said the EU was ready to re-engage Zimbabwe following what he referred to as a major democratic transition in Zimbabwe.
He said a team of the EU that visited Zimbabwe recently appreciated the significant progress made by the inclusive Government.
“The delegation was updated on EU development assistance, development needs and priorities of the Government.
“The general appreciation is that there has been significant progress since the formation of the inclusive Government, while challenges still remain to ensure credible and peaceful elections,” he said.
A University of Zimbabwe lecturer who refused to be named said the EU’s position should be dismissed with all contempt as it amounted to direct infringement on Zimbabwe internal politics.
Online Reporter