EU hails Mnangagwa Elections Observer Mission Invite; slams repressive laws: says monitoring the process meticulously
By Staff Writer
THE European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe has hailed President Emmerson Mnangagwa for extending an Elections Observer Mission invite but maintained that the clethora of repressive laws currently being implemented violates the constitution.
The Southern Africa nation is due to hold general elections later this year amid rising international pressure for the process to be fair.
The visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, Robert Scott also called on Harare to hold free elections.
The EU follows closely the process leading up to the elections which are of great importance to the trajectory of the country and encouraged all electoral stakeholders, state and non-state alike, to play their role in ensuring the organisation of a credible and peaceful electoral process.
“The EU Election Mission of 2018 provided a set of recommendations and encourages actors to continue improving the electoral framework to allow for credible , inclusive and transparent elections,” the delegation said.
The delegation expressed concerns on repressive laws currently pending implementation like the Data Protection Act and if enacted , bills such as the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill and the envisaged patriotic provisions in the Criminal Law Amendment Bill .
“It is important that international human rights obligations are adhered to and constitutional rights of the people of Zimbabwe respected.
“In view of all of the above, in its 2023 revision of the restrictive measures , the EU has decided to extend by one year the two measures in place (I.e arms embargo and targeted assets freeze against one company , Zimbabwe Defence Industries . Since February 2022there are no listed individuals.
“The EU will continue to closely follow developments with a particular attention to the human rights situationand recalls its readiness to adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly,” added EU.
