|
afrol News, 6 September - Yesterday evening, Euro-MPs unanimously adopted a tough resolution calling for united international action against Robert Mugabe's regime plus a strict application of the EU's travel ban and freeze on financial assets. The cleavage between Europe and Africa over Zimbabwe thus grows even deeper. The resolution holds that "the food crisis in Zimbabwe has been seriously exacerbated by the actions of the Mugabe regime," especially referring to the recent steps to implement the controversial land reform. The text further establishes that "there is increasing evidence of a deliberate policy by the Mugabe regime to carry out selective starvation against its political enemies." Opening the emergency debate on Zimbabwe in Strasbourg, the Vice-Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Geoffrey Van Orden (UK - Conservative) warned the 626-strong European Parliament: "Let us be clear: the issue is not the rights of white farmers, it is the rights of all of the people of Zimbabwe. If you are not a card-carrying ZANU-PF member then you are subject to harassment, discrimination, assault, selective starvation policies and murder. How serious does it have to get before effective action is taken?" Van Orden condemned Mugabe's "misguided land reform policies", which were resulting in "massive environmental degradation, have condemned hundreds of thousands to poverty and are putting over six million Zimbabweans at risk of starvation." Euro-MPs from all parties went on attacking Mugabe's regime for using "food supplies as a political weapon against opposition supporters." According to the Parliament's Resolution, imported maize and other emergency food supplies were "being controlled for political purposes by the Grain Marketing Board, which is under the direction of Perence Shiri, a close Mugabe associate." Shiri was accused of being behind the so-called "selective starvation" against the opposition. This was also recently stated by the Brussels think-tank International Crisis Group in its report 'Silence Selective Starvation'. Highlighting the condemnation by all Euro-MPs of France's recent decision to allow Zimbabwe's police chief Augustine Chihuri to attend a high-level Executive meeting of the international crime fighting body INTERPOL in Lyons, France, Van Orden demanded: "The Council must now take vigorous and effective steps to close the loopholes and galvanise international moves against Mugabe before the tragedy of Zimbabwe is again overshadowed by other international crises. Let us have some determined action for the sake of all the people of Zimbabwe!" The European Parliament underlined "its commitment at this time to provide the Zimbabwean people with emergency humanitarian aid, including assistance with transportation, provided that there are guarantees it is dispensed in a non-partisan manner, including through independent agencies in order to prevent the misappropriation of food for political ends"; and condemned "human rights violations in Zimbabwe and in particular violence against women". The Parliament thus presented seven key proposals which were to "increase pressure on Mugabe and his ZANU-PF cronies." These included for South Africa's President Mbeki to take the initiative in bringing pressure to bear on Zimbabwe through effective regional initiatives, and to demand fresh presidential elections in Zimbabwe under international supervision. The resolution further called for the EU immediately to "take firm and meaningful steps in order to extend its sanctions," and insists that the travel ban and other EU measures against the Mugabe regime "be rigorously enforced, without exception." It also asks other G-8 countries to join in imposing financial and other targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe. Responding to this major debate in Strasbourg, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten told Euro-MPs: "We, in the Commission, will contribute to support any peer pressure that Heads of State in Africa, and southern Africa in particular, may put on the Zimbabwe Government to respect the essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement, such as human rights, the rule of law and democracy." He announced an initiative towards southern African states. In addition to the 110,000 tonnes of food aid and a global allocation of euro 3.5 million to fight the famine, and an initial euro 2 million provided by Europe's humanitarian organisation ECHO to help particularly children and farm workers, EU Commissioner Patten announced further funds: "A sizeable part of the humanitarian financing decision to be taken shortly for euro 30 million for the region will go to respond to the emergency in Zimbabwe including monitoring needs and food aid distribution." EU Commissioner Patten also highlighted Zimbabwe's role in the systematic pillage of Congo Kinshasa (DRC), and concluded: "President Mugabe and his cronies have wrecked a once prosperous and once stable country. Their record is a deplorable blot on the history of southern Africa. The sooner Zimbabwe is rid of them the better for that wonderful country and the better for its people." - The European Commission's tough message was greeted with thunderous applause by Euro-MPs from all parties, Timothy Beyer Helm of the Parliament's Development & Co-operation Committee reported from Strasbourg.
|
