MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
22.4.2008
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Hannes Swoboda
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the situation in Zimbabwe
B6‑0208/2008
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Zimbabwe
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its resolutions of 15 December 2003, 16 December 2004, 7 July 2005 and 6 September 2006, 26 April 2007 on Zimbabwe,
– having regard to the Emergency SADC Summit of 13 April 2008, held in Zambia,
– having regard to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Bureau's Declaration of 21 March 2007 on the ill-treatment of the Zimbabwean opposition Member of Parliament Nelson Chamisa,
– having regard to the Council Common Position 2007/120/CFSP of 19 February 2007 renewing restrictive measures against Zimbabwe until 20 February 2008,
– having regard to the Council Conclusion of 18 February 2008 renewing restrictive measures against Zimbabwe until 20 February 2009,
- having regard to the Council Conclusion of 10 March 2008 urging the government of
Zimbabwe to ensure the elections will meet international norms and standards.
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas at the end of March 2007 Mr Mugabe was officially endorsed as Zanu-PF candidate for President in 2008,
B. whereas Zimbabwe Presidential elections took place on 28 March 2008,
C. whereas nearly three weeks after the elections the result of the presidential vote have still not been announced and opposition supporters are increasing in number,
D. whereas Mugabe´s government announced a delay in the partial recount on Sunday 19 April raising concerns that his ruling ZANU- PF party intends to rig the recount to overturn the results of the parliamentary vote,
E. whereas violent attacks on members of the opposition parties, civil society groups and individuals in Zimbabwe are increasing in number,
F. whereas since the violent break-up more than 200 people have been injured and at least 150 people have been arrested since 14 April,
G. whereas the United Nations' Secretary General has called on African leaders to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis,
H. whereas the country's political and economic situation has now been deteriorating for nine years and Zimbabweans continue to face serious food shortages, estimating that over 4.5 million suffer from malnutrition,
I. whereas life expectancy in Zimbabwe is now among the lowest in the world at 43 for men and 42 for women, 20% of adults are HIV-positive, with over 3 200 people a week dying from the disease, creating the world's highest rate of orphans,
J. whereas 80% of the population is living below the poverty line, the country has an unemployment rate of 80% in the formal sector and the few employed Zimbabweans do not earn enough to meet even their basic needs, suffering from massive deskilling, corruption, prohibitive school fees, and the collapse of the health system and vital services,
K. whereas a third of Zimbabwe's people live within the borders of neighbouring countries and between three and five million Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa, many of them living in an irregular situation,
L. whereas, according to the IMF, Zimbabwe's economy has contracted by 40% in the last decade; whereas Zimbabwe moved into technically defined 'hyperinflation' when its annualised inflation rate surged to 1000,000% in January 2008,
M. whereas according to the Zimbabwean Chamber of Mines the gold mining sector, which is the country's biggest exporter and accounts for 52% of its mineral output, is facing collapse; whereas the Zimbabwe tobacco industry that accounts for approximately 50% of the country's foreign exchange is facing a similar position; and whereas agricultural productivity has fallen by 80% since 1998,
N. whereas alarm is growing within the region at the repercussions of Zimbabwe's economic disaster on neighbouring countries,
O. whereas the development of Africa is a priority for Western democracies, aid alone can achieve little and African governments are expected to commit to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights,
P. whereas the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and in particular South Africa can make a vital contribution to resolving the crisis, whereas the SADC meeting on 13 April is an important step in this direction, calling for the immediate publication of results; regrets Mugabe's decision to not be part of the meeting,
Q. whereas the Zimbabwe Parliament has since the entry in 2000 of the MDC party on the political scene become an important place for dialogue and building relationships between the majority and opposition parties,
1. Calls for the expeditious release of the Presidential elections results without any further delay in accordance with Mugabe´s statements to comply with the due process of law;
2. Shows concern at the prolonged and unexplained delay in realising the Presidential results which is undermining the credibility of the process;
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3. Calls Zimbabwe's current government to respect democratic principals and ensure that the elections be a credible evidence of the free and democratic will of the Zimbabwean people;
4. Stresses that the Zimbabwean Parliament ought to play a central role in solving the current impasse on the results of the Presidential Elections;
5. Stresses deep concern about the current deteriorating situation in the field of human rights, rule of law and the increasing reports of violent incidents; in addition calls for the immediate release of the150 citizens arrested in the course of a peaceful protest against the delayed publication of results; reiterates that an international effort has to be made in order to avoid a similar situation as in Kenya;
6. Condemns the arrest of almost a dozen foreign journalists in recent weeks, and calls for the lifting of all restrictions on the freedom of the press and assembly, and for unfettered access to Zimbabwe by foreign news agencies;
7. Calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to live up to its commitments, as a signatory to the SADC Treaty and protocols, the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the African Charter of Human and People's Rights, to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law;
8. Calls on the Council to ensure that all Member States rigorously apply existing restrictive measures;
9. Urges the international community to consider the human rights and political situation in Zimbabwe without delay and calls on countries that keep supporting the Mugabe regime especially with arms, military supply and the means of repression, including of its own government, to join the efforts of the international community;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Government and Parliament of South Africa, the Secretary-General of the Southern African Development Community, the Chairmen of the Commission and Executive Council of the African Union, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.