Source: ED govt yet to formally invite us for Zim poll: EU – DailyNews Live
26 February 2018
HARARE – Our staff writer Farayi Machamire sits down for a wide-ranging
interview with European Union head of Delegation Philippe Van Damme. Find
below, excerpts of the interview.
Q: We have heard President Emmerson Mnangagwa stating that foreign
observer missions would be welcome to monitor the polls, a change from the
previsions regime that tended to allow mainly “sweetheart” monitors such
as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to watch proceedings.
Has government formally invited the EU?
A: On our side, we are talking to the government and we hope that
government will in the next few days clarify its invitation towards the
international community including the European Union. In the case of the
EU, we have a very specific and well-established methodology for election
observation missions.
The first thing we need is a formal request by the government to invite
what we call an exploratory mission which is a mission of experts who will
speak to the different stakeholders of the electoral process and assess
whether indeed these stakeholders consider these observation missions as
useful.
They will also assess the feasibility of electoral observation from a
security and logistical point of view. And then they will advise us on
whether or not an EU electoral observation should be deployed.
And then, of course, the final decision will be taken once, based on that
mission, the government confirms its willingness to deploy that mission or
not. So at the moment, we are expecting an invite for an exploratory
mission any time soon, we are at the beginning of the process.
Q: Mnangagwa officials have claimed they will be in a position to invite
international bodies once he has proclaimed the election date.
A: This has nothing to do with the proclamation of the election dates. Our
methodology foresees that these types of invites are coming in four to six
months ahead of the indicative period in which elections are held.
Now, in this country, we have a Constitution which is very clear.
We know that the elections will be held between July 23 and August 22 so
there is no problem to have that invite and have the exploratory mission
coming in at any moment now.
Q: What is your take on the environmental framework going into this
election considering claims of serial number intimidation and the role of
traditional leaders?
A: It’s certainly of concern and we have expressed our concern privately
and publicly to the people involved in this. And as you know, Zec
(Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), I think belatedly, have come out
condemning people taking serial numbers of registered voters.
I think it’s extremely important for Zec, civil society and political
parties to make it clear that the vote is secret so that the integrity of
the voter registration and of the vote is not undermined. We hope all
stakeholders will step up voter education so that people feel reassured.
On the aspect of intimidation, including some unfortunate statements by
traditional leaders and some political leaders, again we are appealing to
all people in positions of authority to stand up and condemn all these
forms of intimidation.
I hope that all political parties will sign up to the code of conduct and
adhere to this code of conduct and also sign up to peace pledges which
churches are planning to submit so that indeed there is a kind of moral
pressure on all actors in these elections.
Q: Restricted State media access for opposition parties and the absence of
divergent voices in the state media going into this election remains a
major concern. Do you get a sense this could be a major hurdle militating
against free, fair and credible elections?
A: We launched a programme, a couple of weeks ago, in support of the media
in the electoral process and the acting minister of Information (Simon
Khaya Moyo) was there and I appealed to him to open up public media in
line with what the Constitution says regarding the representation of
divergent views in the public media.
There are two aspects, one, you have the legal framework which involves
alignment of laws. I am told Aippa (Access to Information and Protection
of Privacy Act) and Posa (Public Order and Security Act) will be revised
and a draft document will be gazetted over a month or two, which will be a
positive move. But over and above that is the practical implementation and
it should not be so difficult for ZBC to open up to divergent voices.
I try to follow ZBC news but unfortunately, I don’t see any significant
evolution and I am hoping that evolution will accelerate over the next
months and that the public media will be able to implement what the
president has been saying.
Q: The right to vote for every Zimbabwean, including the rights of
prisoners to vote, the rights of the hospitalised to vote and those in the
Diaspora, remains a thorny issue. Do you believe this will dent the
credibility of the election?
A: Different countries have different positions on those particular
issues. It is up to Zimbabweans to decide on what they want.
Q: Has the new government presented a clear and time-line bound plan for
political and economic reform for the EU to review its ties with Zimbabwe?
A: Time-bound, not to my knowledge. The government has indeed announced a
series of reforms but I have not seen any calendar yet at this stage and
we are urging the government to identify what are the key reforms they
still consider to be implementable before the elections and then to start
to think about what are the reforms which they would want to implement
after the elections because it’s important for confidence-building.
Q: Is there any standard that the EU would be satisfied with?
A: It’s not for me to be happy but for the people of Zimbabwe to be
satisfied. I remember hearing (Finance) minister (Patrick) Chinamasa who
when he came back from Lima in October 2015, explained at a business
meeting that what he presented at Lima was not to please the international
community but he thought it was needed for the people for Zimbabwe.
Q: We have seen United States tightening screws on President Emmerson
Mnangagwa in so far as sanctions are concerned, what route is the EU
taking?
A: That’s not my understanding. You have to ask US but my understanding is
that they just rolled over their existing sanctions.
Q: The military intervention of November 2017 has been interpreted as a
coup by some sectors, how has the EU interpreted it?
A: We have been saying repeatedly and we have a couple of statements on
this issue, including council conclusions made on January 22.
We have been saying consistently that we are working with governments and
not with individuals and what we are interested in is government’s
committed to reforms, economic reforms, electoral reforms and political
reforms in the interest of the people of this country.
EU Council conclusions in light of ongoing political transition reads:
The ongoing political transition in Zimbabwe creates high expectations
among all Zimbabweans.
It can open the way to a full return to the rule of law, within a
constitutional framework and under civilian rule, allowing for the
preparation and implementation of much-needed political and economic
reforms.
The EU reaffirms its availability to engage constructively with the new
authorities, including through a structured political dialogue, with
political actors across the spectrum, and with civil society, on the basis
of a mutual commitment to shared values focused on human rights,
democratic principles and the rule of law. It will do so in coordination
with African and international partners.
The upcoming electoral process will be an essential step.
The EU welcomes the commitment of the authorities to hold elections in
line with the Constitution, and underlines the importance that the
conditions are in place to allow those elections to be peaceful,
inclusive, credible and transparent.
The EU would consider favourably electoral observation, provided that the
required conditions are fulfilled and that an invitation from the
Government of Zimbabwe is received.
The EU welcomes the stated intention of the Zimbabwean authorities to
deliver economic reforms in Zimbabwe, aiming at supporting job creation,
growth and sustainable long-term development, and reaffirms its
willingness to support the planning and implementation of much-needed
structural changes and the promotion of good governance.
In this context, the EU will support the authorities in establishing as
soon as possible a constructive re-engagement with international financial
institutions based on a clear and time-bound economic and political reform
programme. The EU stands ready to review the whole range of its policies
towards Zimbabwe at any moment to take into account the progress achieved
in the country.
Q: Lastly, you referred to people who can speak out with moral authority.
What do you find most queer about Zimbabwe’s religious landscape?
A: I am amazed by the over population of prophets in this country. In the
biblical tradition in the Old Testament, you have quite some prophets but
never with the density as in this country.
I thought that Israel was specialised in producing prophets but this
country is overdoing it, so it makes me doubt the quality and credibility
of some of those prophets.
I observe the sociological phenomenon from where I can observe them and my
observations lead me to conclude that as you have fake news you also have
fake prophets driven by commercial interests, exploiting the misery of the
people.
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