MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe, and notably the case of Farai Maguwu

6.7.2010

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

Véronique De Keyser, Michael Cashman, Ana Gomes on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0415/2010

B7‑0440/2010

European Parliament resolution on Zimbabwe, and notably the case of Farai Maguwu

The European Parliament,

A. whereas Zimbabwe has committed itself to the system of certification of the Kimberley Process, which requires its members to certify that the selling of raw diamonds does not finance armed conflicts;

B.  Whereas numerous reports question whether Zimbabwe is meeting the requirements of the Kimberley Certification Scheme;

C. Whereas Farai Maguwu, Zimbabwean citizen, is the founder and Head of the Centre for Research and Developpment (CRD), a non governmental organisation based in Mutare; whereas he has denounced Human Rights violations in several diamond fields in Zimbabwe, notably in Marange;

D. Whereas on June 3rd 2010, Farai Maguwu was arrested by the Zimbabwean state authorities, issued with charges of publishing information which is prejudicial to the Zimbabwean state;

E.  Whereas an Intersession meeting of the Kimberley Process members was held in Tel Aviv from June 21st to June 23rd 2010 and that Farai Maguwu was intentionally planning to attend to express his doubts about Zimbabwe meeting the requirements of the certification scheme;

F.  Whereas Farai Maguwu is now in detention in unknown conditions since June 3rd 2010, waiting for trial;

G. Whereas his legal team states that since his detention, Farai Maguwu has been denied the rights that he entitled to under Zimbabwean law, notably the right to be presented to a judge in a 48 hours time limit;

H. Whereas Farai Maguwu asked to be released on bail on June 21 2010, but his request has been denied,

I.   Whereas Zimbabwe is frequently accused of Human Rights violations towards political dissidents,

1.  Asks for the immediate and unconditional release of Farai Maguwu and condemns the conditions of his arrest and detention;

2.  Calls on the Zimbabwean authorities to honour their commitments made in the framework of the Kimberley Process and to comply fully with the requirements of the Kimberley Process certification Scheme;

3. regrets the recurring human rights abuses in the diamond region and the regular threats to human rights activists and whistle-blowers in Zimbabwe;

4.  Calls for Zimbabwe to guarantee the respect of Human Rights and fundamental rights on its territory, so that civil society can freely express its opinions without fear of persecution and that Zimbabwean citizens enjoy the freedoms they are entitled to under the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the International covenant on civil and political rights, and the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights ;

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

6. Call for Commission to work in favour of the inclusion of human rights clauses in the Kimberley Process;

7. Calls on Kimberley Process members to consider suspending the monitoring arrangement provided for under the November work plan, until Zimbabwean authorities give concrete assurances that people who provide information to the Kimberley Process will not be persecuted and harassed by state security agencies for their actions.

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the President of the Council of the European Union, and to the Zimbabwean authorities.