THE United Kingdom Parliament is concerned that there is no sign that Zimbabwe will hold free and fair elections next year following political violence during recent by-elections.
It is also concerned about the country’s failure to
implement 2018 electoral reforms recommended by international observer
missions.
Contributing to debate in the British House of Lords last
week, UK’s Minister of State and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office Lord Zac Goldsmith of Richmond Park said limited progress had been made
in implementing electoral reforms.
Zimbabwe will hold its 2023 general elections in July or
August next year.
“We recognise that there has been only very limited
progress to date on the electoral reforms recommended in the 2018 paper. Key
outstanding areas include a transparent voter registration process, publication
of an accurate voter’s roll, transparent use of State-owned resources and more
effort to demonstrate the independence of the electoral commission. This
remains a priority in our discussions with not just Zimbabwe but neighbouring
countries as well,” Lord Goldsmith said in response to questions from
legislators.
In response, Lord Robert Hayward said: “At that time (2018 elections) I was one of the observers from this country on behalf of the Commonwealth, with the noble Baroness, Lady Jay. The report was pretty damning, particularly in relation to the events after the general election. Can my noble friend ensure that very strong representations are made to the electoral commission (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) because it has been lamentable in any action? There is no sign that it will enforce any form of free and fair elections next year.”
Another UK legislator, Jeremy Purvis of Tweed suggested
that there be ministerial meetings with the Southern African Development Community
(Sadc) to come up with regional solutions to end political violence in
Zimbabwe.
British legislators also suggested that they should take
advantage of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s scheduled visit to the
UK next month to engage with a view of influencing free and fair elections in
Zimbabwe.
Ramaphosa and his wife, Tshepo Motsepe are set to make
their first visit to Buckingham Palace late next month following King Charles’
takeover following the death of Queen Elizabeth last month.
“The noble Baroness has been a champion of Zimbabwe for
many years, and I pay tribute to her for that. She is right to identify this
upcoming visit as an opportunity. There is no doubt that SA, and indeed
southern African countries, not least through Sadc, have a particular ability
to influence Zimbabwe, far more so than we can. I am sure that the topic we are
discussing today will be on the agenda when the visit happens,” Goldsmith
responded.
Lord Oates then asked about the political incarceration of
opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators Job Sikhala (Zengeza
West) and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North) who have been detained at
Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for 142 days and paraded in leg irons.
He said political violence would mar the credibility of
2023 polls, adding that King Charles should condemn Zimbabwe’s brutalisation of
the opposition.
Lord Goldsmith responded: “l thank the noble Lord for
raising this enormously important issue. He is right; the world is watching and
of course the UK is deeply concerned by the challenging human rights situation
in Zimbabwe. Political parties, journalists and opponents should be able to
operate without any form of harassment.”
He said the UK would monitor the individual cases,
including that of CCC proportional representation MP Jasmine Toffa and other
women who were brutally beaten up by suspected Zanu PF activists while
campaigning in Insiza and Matobo last week.
Lord St John of Blesto said indications were that the
country would not conduct a free, fair and credible election next year.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba refused to
comment on the issue saying: “It’s just
a Parliament, and I don’t speak for the UK Parliament, I speak for the
government of Zimbabwe.”
Zec chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana referred
NewsDay questions to Zec spokesperson Jasper Mangwana.
Mangwana said: “We resist any attempt by outside forces to
control the narrative of our electoral processes especially before they have
been proclaimed. We totally condemn this conduct which seeks to undermine in
advance the credibility of our 2023 harmonised elections,"
“It is tantamount to writing a report before the elections. Our electoral processes
are guided by our laws which the Commission has always adhered to and will
continue.”
Lord Goldsmith said Zimbabwe was a country with
extraordinary potential and an extraordinary history.
“…And of course it is right that the current political
approach inhibits that potential. The UK
is a long standing partner of Zimbabwe and we provide significant levels of ODA
(overseas development assistance).
However, I want to be clear to the House that we do so in a way that
avoids government to government bilateral financial aid,” Goldsmith said
He said the UK would use whatever leverage at its disposal
to maximise the chance of a free and fair election in Zimbabwe.
“We know that President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants more
engagement with the UK — that is clear — and in many respects we want him to
have that too. However, deeper
re-engagement with the UK will require meaningful political and economic reform
and respect for human rights and the rule of law in line with the President’s
own commitments when he took office,” he said. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment