The European Union (EU) has expressed concern about the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill and the Criminal Law Amendment Bill noting that they will have a negative impact on the democratic and civic space.
“These include the Data Protection Act and, if enacted, bills such as the PVO Amendment Bill and the envisaged ‘patriotic provisions’ in the Criminal Law Amendment Bill,” said the bloc in a statement released on Tuesday.
The EU added that it was still concerned that the recommendations of the Motlante Commission of Inquiry have not been followed substantially neither on the perpetrators of killings and violations that occurred in August 2018 and January 2019.
“To date, they are still enjoying impunity from prosecution. It is important that international human rights obligations are adhered to and the constitutional rights of the people of Zimbabwe respected,” said the bloc.
In light of this complacency, the EU extended the two measures in place by one year in its 2023 revision of the restrictive measures against the country, that is, the arms embargo and targeted assets freeze against the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.
“Since February 2022 there are no listed individuals. The EU will continue to closely follow developments, with a particular attention to the human rights situation and recall its readiness to adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly,” the EU stated.
The remaining restrictive measures in place do not affect the people of Zimbabwe, its economy, foreign direct investments, or trade, claimed the EU.
The bloc however welcomed Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s invitation to the bloc to deploy an electoral observer mission for this year’s elections.
The EU stated that it was closely monitoring the processes leading up to the elections.
“The EU encourages all electoral stakeholders, state and non-state alike, to play their role in ensuring the organisation of a credible and peaceful electoral process,” said the bloc, noting that in 2018 its election observation mission provided a set of recommendations.
“The EU encourages actors to continue improving the electoral framework to allow for credible, inclusive and transparent elections,” reiterating its ambition to continue developing a more constructive relationship with Zimbabwe.
The bloc also welcomed the recent launch of the dialogue platform related to arrears clearance and debt resolution process and looks forward to tangible progress in this process.
“Furthermore, the EU welcomes Zimbabwe’s engagement on the Universal Periodic Review process, the alignment of legislation with the 2013 Constitution, the enactment of the Independent Complaints Commission Act, the new Marriages Act and the High-Level Political Compact on gender-based violence,” said the EU.
