MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

16.12.2008

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 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Eoin Ryan, Adam Bielan, Ewa Tomaszewska, Ryszard Czarnecki, Konrad Szymański, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Marcin Libicki, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the situation in Zimbabwe

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0628/2008

B6‑0642/2008

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Zimbabwe

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on placeplaceZimbabwe, in particular that of 7 July 2008 and ACP resolution of 28 November 2008

–  having regard to the Council Conclusions on placeplaceZimbabwe adopted on 26-27 May 2008 and 29 April 2008,

–  having regard to the report of the Pan-African Parliament Election Observer Mission on the harmonised elections in the placeplaceRepublicplace of Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008,

–  having regard to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council of 19-20 June 2008, which confirm the readiness of the EU to adopt additional measures against those responsible for the violence,

–  having regard to the preliminary statement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission on the Zimbabwe presidential run-off and House of Assembly by-elections of 29 June,

–  having regard to the preliminary statement of the African Union Observer Mission to placeplaceZimbabwe of 29 June 2008,

–  having regard to the resolution on Zimbabwe adopted at the 11th African Union Summit, held in Sharm el-Sheikh on 30 June-1 July 2008,

–  having regard to the preliminary statement of 29 June 2008 of the African Union (AU) Observer Mission to placeplaceZimbabwe,

–  having regard to the agreement of 15 September 2008 between the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations, on resolving the challenges facing Zimbabwe,

-  having regard to the SADC Treaty and the Protocols thereto, including the SADC

   Electoral Protocol,

-  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas there was much violence and violations of the rights of the opposition perpetrated by elements in the Zimbabwean army and militias deployed by Mugabe’s party, ZANUPF in the run-up to the presidential elections in March 2008, as well as the run-off elections in June,

B.  whereas the attempted murder of the opposition party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who was standing against Robert Mugabe during the run-off election campaign forced Mr Tsvangirai to take refuge in a European embassy and then leave the country, and withdraw from the presidential run-off,

C.  whereas, in spite of the pressure and intimidation exerted on the people of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai gained a large majority in the first round of the presidential elections and the MDC also won the parliamentary (lower house) elections and the elections for speaker of parliament,

D.  whereas, on the basis of the official results of the run-off elections of 27 June 2008, the incumbent president, Robert Mugabe, was re-elected, following the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangirai,

E.  whereas a large number of African observer missions (Economic Community of West African States, Pan-African Parliament, African Union) stated that, as a result of the violence, the election results failed to reflect the will of the people,

F.  whereas the disastrous conduct of these elections has exacerbated the already catastrophic humanitarian situation of placeplaceZimbabwe’s population, forcing people to move away from their homes or leave the country,

G.  whereas there is a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, with up to 800 people dead and suspected cases as high as 15,219 (according to the UN World Health Organisation),

H.  whereas there is a major food shortage in placeplaceZimbabwe; whereas it is estimated that over 5 million Zimbabweans, 45% of the population will require food assistance in the coming months,

placeI. whereas many people have lost access to clean water due to a shortage of foreign exchange and the recent cholera outbreak,

J.  whereas among African nations, only leaders in Botswana, Zambia and Kenya have called on Mr Mugabe who has ruled Zimbabwe to leave office,

K.  whereas on 9 December the UN Secretary-General said that Zimbabwe could be placed on the agenda of the UN Security Council as early as 15 December, whereas all previous attempts to discuss Zimbabwe have been vetoed by China and Russia;

1.  Strongly condemns the campaigns of violence and intimidation conducted against the Zimbabwean population with the aim of influencing the voting in the 2008 elections, as well as the violations of the rights of the opposition;

2.  Declares that, in the light of such flagrant violations, the Zimbabwean elections held in June 2008 cannot be deemed to have been transparent, credible and fair;

3.  Expresses concern over the outbreak of cholera in placeZimbabweplace, which is spreading to South Africaplace, Botswanaplace, Mozambiqueplace and placeZambia; is horrified by Mugabe's attempts to attribute the outbreak to Western countries,

4.  Congratulates the Governments of Kenya, placeBotswanaplace and placeZambia for speaking out against the Mugabe regime, and asks other African governments to follow in their footsteps,

5.  Calls on the UN to raise placeZimbabweplace as an item in the agenda of its Security Council in order to use all of the measures for which its statutes provide to secure vital and urgent changes for the people of placeZimbabwe;

6.  Calls on China and Russia to support strong measures in the UN Security Council and to indicate to African Governments that they are no longer willing to give any support to the Mugabe regime; further calls on Libya to cut its economic ties with Zimbabwe until there is a change of regime;

7.  Strongly appeals to the international community to ensure the rapid provision of substantial humanitarian aid to the people of placeplaceZimbabwe;

8.  Demands the immediate release of all persons detained for political reasons, particularly Jestina Mukoko, Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, and other human rights defenders recently abducted;

9.  Calls on the Council to encourage the African Union to prepare contingencies for active intervention, in order to protect the civil population;

10.  Calls on the Council and placeMemberplace Statesplace to intensify their diplomatic action in Africa, in order to bring about active support for measures against placeZimbabwe;

11.  Calls on the Council and placeMemberplace Statesplace to review their policies on development and other assistance for African countries where the Government continues to support political oppression and human rights abuse in placeZimbabwe;

12.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments of the G8 countries, the governments and parliaments of Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Chairmen of the Commission and Executive Council of the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, and the Secretary-General and governments of the Southern African Development Community and its Parliamentary Forum.