Eyebrows raised as EU ropes in rabid anti-Zimbabwe critic

Wallace Ruzvidzo

Herald Reporter

EYEBROWS have been raised over the European Union’s (EU) deployment of Mr Fabio Massimo Castaldo, a known rabid critic of Zimbabwe, to lead it’s Election Observer Mission for the 23 August harmonised polls.

Mr Castaldo has maintained a hardline stance against Zimbabwe hence his objectivity in observing the polls is being doubted by neutrals.

He has been known to interfere in Zimbabwe’s electoral processes by calling for the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Back in 2021, the then MDC-Alliance unsuccessfully tried to lobby the EU to impose fresh sanctions on Zimbabwe after its legislators had been recalled from Parliament following a Supreme Court ruling that stripped the now CCC leader Mr Nelson Chamisa of the leadership of the main opposition party.

After the Supreme Court ruling, which resulted in the Dr Thokozani Khupe-led faction assuming the reins of power in the troubled MDC-A, the opposition party, that previously engaged the West to impose illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, reached out to the EU.

Through Mr Castaldo, who is a member of the European Parliament, the MDC-A sought to pile up pressure on the EU to interfere in Zimbabwe’s domestic affairs.

In written questions to the EU Parliament, Mr Castaldo suggested the imposition of so-called Magnitsky type sanctions that were being used by the West to punish countries that did not subscribe to its whims.

He then tabled two written questions to the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) concerning the expulsion and political persecution of PGA Member, Ms Dorcas Sibanda and other Zimbabwean Members of Parliament.

The questions read: “What can the EU do in support of the exercise of civil and political rights in Zimbabwe? As envisaged in Articles 8 and 29 and Annex VIII on political dialogue as regards to human rights, democratic principles, and the rule of law of the Cotonou agreement, can the EU enter into meaningful political dialogue to exercise pressure on the Zimbabwean Government to ensure the respect of democratically elected Parliamentarians”.

Harare based political commentator Mr Naboth Dzivaguru told The Herald that it was irregular for Mr Castaldo to be part of the mission as he was known to be a staunch Government critic.

“It’s equally highly incorrect for a whole EU bloc to provocatively consider to choose one of its own who is an infamously known Zimbabwe critic to lead the bloc’s delegation for the Zimbabwe election.

“Castaldo seems to be a hired Zimbabwe election assassin. Him and the EU bloc seem to have a predetermined mission, and the obvious mission to tradecraft their own narrative of the election outcome,” he said.

Mr Dzivaguru said Mr Castaldo’s deployment was synonymous with “bullying and provocation”.

“I consider the deployment as bullying and provocation to the host nation. I urge Zimbabwe to train its eyes on the ball and ignore sideshows.

“So far so good… the nation is yet to record a damning report of political election violence thanks to State President’s clarion and unrelenting call to shun violence in this political election cycle,” he said.

In his words, Mr Castaldo said he was honoured to be part of the bloc’s observer mission.

“Democracy requires more than elections, but a country cannot be a democracy without holding genuine elections.

“That is why I feel honoured to head an European Union Election Observation Mission to Zimbabwe,” he said.