MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe

5.4.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Michael Gahler, Alain Cadec, Mario Mauro, Cristian Dan Preda, Filip Kaczmarek, Bernd Posselt, Tunne Kelam, Monica Luisa Macovei, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Elena Băsescu, Sari Essayah, Thomas Mann, Csaba Sógor, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Bogusław Sonik on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0265/2011

B7‑0272/2011

European Parliament resolution on Zimbabwe

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Zimbabwe, most recently those of 8 July 2010 and 21 October 2010,

– having regard to the EU-ACP Cotonou Partnership Agreement signed June 2000,

– having regard to the African Charter of human and Peoples' Rights of which Zimbabwe as ratified,

– having regard to the global political agreement that created the unity government in February 2009,

– having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 22 February 2010 on Zimbabwe, and to the conclusions of the 10^th EU-South Africa Ministerial Political Dialogue of 11 May 2010 on Zimbabwe,

– having regards to the local statement of 11 March 2011 issued by 22 representations in Harare on the situation in Zimbabwe,

– having regard to the Council decision 2011/101/CFSP of 15 February 2011 concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe,

– having regards to the Declaration of 15 February 2011 by the HR Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union on Zimbabwe,

– having regard to the numerous reports of local and international Human Rights organisations concerning human rights violations in Zimbabwe,

– having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, following the presidential election of March 2008 after Robert Mugabe lost in the first round to Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the opposing party MDC, political forces agreed to enter a power-sharing government in order to help restore national peace and stability and to end the socio-economic crisis,

B.  whereas in the past two years, the government has struggled to bring stability to the country and has failed to pave the way for a democratic transition through credible elections; whereas the appalling political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has considerably deteriorated since December 2010,

C. whereas President Mugabe has shown his will to force early presidential elections in order to bring down the government of national unity and put an end to the power-sharing agreement; and whereas Robert Mugabe is constantly delaying the constitutional process that would set the conditions for a free and fair vote,

D. whereas on 26 March 2011, an MDC rally was arbitrarily banned by the police and Elton Mangoma, Minister of Energy and co-founder of the party, was arrested for the second time; whereas co-Minister of Home Affairs Makone was forced to flee and hide from Harare by fear of attacks by supporters of Robert Mugabe,

E.  whereas increasing mob attacks, death threats and politically motivated arrest by youth militias loyal to Robert Mugabe are reported by civil rights groups; whereas MDC property is being regularly destroyed without impunity and MDC officials suffer a brutal campaign of intimidation by national security forces,

F.  whereas opposition to the Mugabe regime is violently repressed, with arbitrary arrests and custodies of human rights defenders, MDC activists, students and trade unionists; whereas cases of ill-treatment are constantly reported, with denied access to medical treatment, lawyers and proper meals,

G. whereas, following the adoption of the “indigenisation law” in 2007, the Mugabe regime has now called on all foreign mining companies to cede a majority of their capital to Zimbabwean stakeholders, under threat of prosecution,

1.  Deplores the rising political tension and escalation of violence in Zimbabwe; and calls on all parties to renounce violence;

2.  Firmly condemns all dreadful acts of killings, repression, violence committed against civilians, human rights violations, and the systematic targeting of human rights activists across the country, including numerous arrests, unlawful detentions and even alleged acts of torture; stresses that those responsible for such abuses and violations must be held accountable;

3.  Recalls that it is the responsibility of Zimbabwean authorities, under international conventions, to guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country, so that Zimbabwean citizens enjoy political rights they are entitled to under the UN Convention on Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights;

4.  Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily and politically arrested, in particular MDC officials and followers; condemns all conditions of arrest and detention contrary to international human rights conventions;

5.  Calls for the immediate release from custody of the Minister of Energy Elton Mangoma and condemns the imposition of Paragraph 121 of the Public Order and Security Act by a state prosecutor, declaring this internationally renowned politician a "dangerous person";

6.  Calls the authorities of Zimbabwe to uphold the unrestricted right to free speech, so that NGOs and human rights association can freely express opinions without fear of persecution or imprisonment; in this respect, calls to end the search of the two leaders of the association Women of Zimbabwe Arise, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, under threat of arbitrary arrest;

7.  Calls for the end of illegal exhumations of victims of previous political conflicts;

8.  Calls on the parties concerned to stick to the SADC agreed process on elections and the constitutional referendum; and urges Zimbabwean authorities to respect the rule of law and stop interfering with the constitutional outreaching process that intends to arrive at constructive consultations for a new national constitution;

9.  Urges Robert Mugabe to respect the global political agreement signed on 15 September 2008 in order to restore peace and economic stability in the country; calls for the installation of a democratic regime respectful of the rule of law with the conduct of presidential elections in a near future;

10. Expresses its concern about the campaign by Mugabe’s regime against foreign interests and to halt all foreign investment, which causes further harm to the already critical economic situation of the country;

11. Calls on South Africa and the SADC, in the interest of Zimbabwe and the wider southern African region, to take further measures to encourage a return to full democracy in Zimbabwe and respect for the rule of law; recognises that Robert Mugabe and his close supporters continue to be an obstacle in the process of political reconciliation and economic reconstruction in Zimbabwe;

12. In this regard, welcomes the SADC initiative to hold, last 31 March 2011, a Summit on the Organ troika on Politics, Defence and Security cooperation to address the situation in Zimbabwe and supports its recommendations for a conducive environment for peace, security and free political activity in Zimbabwe; and supports the efforts of the South African facilitator, in particular President Zuma, in the implementation of the roadmap to ensure credible and democratic elections;

13. Reiterates the importance of dialogue between the European Union and Zimbabwe and welcomes the encouraging progress that has been made in this direction;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and candidate countries, High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Co-Presidents of the EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the African Union institutions, the UN General Secretariat, the Secretary General of the SADC, the SADC Embassies in Brussels and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.