MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe
13.9.2016 - (2016/2882(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Pier Antonio Panzeri, Victor Boştinaru, Knut Fleckenstein, Josef Weidenholzer, Richard Howitt, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Eric Andrieu, Nikos Androulakis, Maria Arena, Zigmantas Balčytis, Hugues Bayet, Brando Benifei, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Simona Bonafè, Biljana Borzan, Soledad Cabezón Ruiz, Nicola Caputo, Andrea Cozzolino, Andi Cristea, Miriam Dalli, Viorica Dăncilă, Nicola Danti, Isabella De Monte, Monika Flašíková Beňová, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Enrico Gasbarra, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Michela Giuffrida, Theresa Griffin, Sylvie Guillaume, Jytte Guteland, Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Neena Gill, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Agnes Jongerius, Eva Kaili, Afzal Khan, Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Javi López, Krystyna Łybacka, David Martin, Edouard Martin, Emmanuel Maurel, Costas Mavrides, Marlene Mizzi, Sorin Moisă, Alessia Maria Mosca, Victor Negrescu, Momchil Nekov, Norbert Neuser, Demetris Papadakis, Gilles Pargneaux, Vincent Peillon, Pina Picierno, Tonino Picula, Kati Piri, Miroslav Poche, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández, Siôn Simon, Monika Smolková, Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu, Claudia Țapardel, Marc Tarabella, Elena Valenciano, Julie Ward, Flavio Zanonato, Damiano Zoffoli, Carlos Zorrinho on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0995/2016
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Zimbabwe
- having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community, on the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement),
- having regard to the Council of the European Union conclusions of 23 July 2012 on Zimbabwe and to Council Implementing Decision 2012/124/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe,
- Having regard to Council decision concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe, 15 February 2016
- having regard to the UN Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000, which sets out the Millennium Development Goals,
- having regard to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights of June 1981, which Zimbabwe has ratified,
- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 1948,
- having regard to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of December 1998,
- having regard to Rules 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A.Whereas a number of peaceful demonstrations took place in Harare in August 2016 calling for electoral reforms to take place before 2018, when Robert Mugabe who has led the country for 36 years to date will seek re-election as President.
B.Whereas the High Court of Zimbabwe had allowed 18 opposition parties that are calling for electoral reforms to participate in the protests.
C.Whereas following the verdict, Mugabe branded High Court judges as “negligent” and who pay “reckless disregard for the peace of this country” when they allowed members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to stage protests in Harare on 26 August.
D.Whereas, the Government and Police actively tried to discourage the peaceful protest of an estimated 150,000 people blaming the unrest on foreign interference governments and subsequently imposed a two-week ban on all demonstrations in the capital
E.Whereas on Wednesday 7 September 2016, the High Court ruled that the ban on protests was illegal, underlining in its verdict the importance of the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
F.Whereas Mugabe’s government has frequently attempted to undermine Zimbabwe’s judiciary by disregarding High Court orders and making public statements attacking the judiciary and a number of judges personally, which may regrettably withhold from making judgements against the government.
G.Whereas recent unrest has been fuelled by the county’s dire economic situation, cash shortages and high unemployment, with the government repeatedly forced to delay salary payment to public officials including teachers, doctors, nurses and the armed forces.
H.Whereas, Zimbabwe is currently suffering a severe drought which in some parts could lead to famine. Whereas the government of Zimbabwe declared a state of disaster in February 2016, estimating that four million people would need food aid by January 2017 and that up to half the rural population face starvation.
I.Whereas there are a number of credible reports, including from Zimbabwe’s human rights commission, stating that the ruling Zanu-PF party has deliberately withheld aid from opposition supporters in areas facing starvation because of drought.
1.Condemns the recent statements made by President Mugabe attacking the judiciary of Zimbabwe and tacitly endorsing the actions of the police in the violent crackdown on peaceful protestors in 26 August 2016.
2.Strongly condemns the attacks on peaceful protestors during the recent demonstrations. Recalls that all Zimbabweans have a right to peaceful protest and express their views, including on line through social media and that judges should not be in any way constrained in defending those rights.
3.Reminds the Government of Zimbabwe of its international human rights law obligations to respect due process and judicial independence under the African Charter on Human and People’s rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights, both of which Zimbabwe has ratified.
4.Underlines that banning protests will not resolve the country’s problems and therefore strongly encourages Zimbabwean authorities to allow peaceful protests and remain open to cooperate with willing international partners, such as the EU and enter dialogue to assist with growing humanitarian and economic problems.
5.Once again urges the EU to keep its restrictive measures against individuals and entities with links to the Mugabe regime in place until there is real evidence of change for the better in Zimbabwe; calls on the Council and Commission and the Member States to take steps to continue assisting a meaningful transition to real democracy and economic progress in the country
6.Strongly condemns reports of the obstruction of food aid for political purposes. Calls on the government of Zimbabwe to cooperate more closely with international organisations in the assessment of the food security situation, in order to allow for timely and targeted intervention,
7.Calls on the government of Zimbabwe to allow the Commission unhindered access to the Commission-funded projects and to enhance its openness to technical assistance for jointly agreed projects and programmes. Calls on the Commission to target fragile and crisis-prone countries in its resilience agenda and to invest in strengthening local institutions in order to achieve stability and ensure that basic services are provided for vulnerable populations;
8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of Zimbabwe, 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, the Secretary-General and governments of the SADC and the SADC Parliamentary Forum.