Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be of great concern to the Government and to the European Union as a whole. While we have seen some improvements in the economic sphere in recent months, this has not been matched in other crucial areas, including respect for human rights, the rule of law and security sector reform.

Areas of particular concern include the continued failure of President Mugabe to address the issue of senior government appointments in a manner consistent with the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The retention of Gideon Gono as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and Johannes Tomana as Attorney General is detrimental to the interests of the country; their removal is vital to the building of confidence among international donors and investors.

Other causes of ongoing concern are the continued farm invasions, delays to the land audit provided for in the GPA, the failure to reform laws to allow for meaningful press freedom, the lack of progress on security sector reform and the abuse of the judiciary including politically motivated arrests. The continued intimidation, harassment and violence directed against political activists and members of Zimbabwean civil society are of grave concern. The most recent crisis concerned the arrest and indictment in early October of the MDC nominee for Deputy Minister for Agriculture on treason charges and culminated in the disengagement by the MDC from their Zanu-PF partners in government.

Zimbabwe's neighbours have a critical role to play in encouraging reform, and can bring the greatest influence to bear in achieving progress in implementing the power sharing agreement. In that regard, the recent summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), who are the guarantors of the GPA, committed both parties in the unity government to enter talks on the full implementation of the GPA. This is a positive development and, with our EU partners, we will continue to support any such efforts to secure full implementation of the GPA and a unity government that delivers on the promise of reform.

Ireland has worked closely with our EU partners in developing a consistent approach to Zimbabwe. In keeping with other international donors, we do not provide funding to the Zimbabwean Government, but respond to the humanitarian needs of the Zimbabwean people through support for the work of multilateral and non-governmental organisations. Thus far in 2009, Ireland has committed funding of over €5.24 million to a range of humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe, focussed on food security, tackling HIV and AIDS, human rights and supporting civil society organisations who provide essential services for the population. While the re-opening of political dialogue with the EU represented a step in the right direction, this dialogue has now stalled. The EU has repeatedly stated its willingness to re-engage with the Zimbabwean Government. Re-engagement, however, remains conditional on the agreed goals set out in the GPA being met. These include restoration of the rule of law, commitment to the democratic process, and respect for human rights. We will continue to monitor the situation and press the inclusive government to fulfil these obligations.