By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe –  The European Union (EU) delegation visit to Zimbabwe declares that more needs to be done before the relationship between the EU and Zimbabwe can be normalized.

Although meetings with President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai went well, there needs to be more progress regarding human-rights abuses, freedom of the media, and the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish International Development Minister, said that the targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe would not be lifted until the human rights issues were resolved.

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Karel de Gucht said that the EU fully supports the efforts of the unity government partners to reach an agreement.  He says that Mr. Mugabe told the delegation that he is committed to the GPA.

“We also think we can come to completion if both sides agree on benchmarks; on a road map, also how to come to on the one hand full completion of the GPA and on the other hand normalization of the relations between Zimbabwe and the European Union. But we are doing this in good spirits,” said de Gucht.

The GPA was signed a year ago by Mugabe, Tsvangirai, and Arthor Mutambabra.  Tsvangirai is the leader for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mutambabra leads the breakaway faction of the MDC.  Since the signing, there have been many delays in the implementation of the deal.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai blames President Mugabe for these delays, saying that he is not doing enough on his part to have the sanctions lifted, which are blocking their relationship with the EU.

At a rally marking the 10th anniversary of the MDC party, Tsvangirai said he would not stand by as Mugabe, “continues to violate the law, persecutes our members of parliament, spreads the language of hate, invades or productive farms . . . ignores our international treaties.”

This particular visit by de Gught and Carlsson were the first EU visits since the EU began the targeted sanctions in 2002 against members of Mugabe’s government for alleged human rights violations.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Zimbabwe’s PM Alleges Persecution – 13 September 2009

The Vancouver Sun – Tsvangirai Criticizes Mugabe Party During EU Visit – 13 September 2009

VOA – EU Says Normalization of Relations With Europe Up to Zimbabwe – 13 September 2009

The Independent – EU Won’t Let Mugabe Off – 14 September 2009