27/12/2011 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter I VOA
THE European Union (EU) has said it will respect the results of elections widely expected early next year provided the vote is held in a free and fair environment.
In an end-of-year address, EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell'Ariccia told reporters that the EU wants the inclusive government to end all forms of violence and implement broad political reforms before heading to the polls. He also urged political parties to achieve closure on the many sticking points in the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Regarding international election observers, Dell'Ariccia said the EU was interested in observing the vote, but will only do so if invited by Harare.
President Robert Mugabe has said no observer invitations will be issued to countries that have imposed sanctions on him and many of his Zanu PF associates.
[Or the government as a whole. You know, non-'targeted sanctions', like ZDERA. - MrK]
But Dell'Ariccia said the EU will be content to rely upon observation by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, both guarantors of the GPA which underpins the power-sharing arrangement.
Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Mwenezi East, Masvingo province, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, said the EU has come to realize that his party is more popular than the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
A spokesman for the MDC formation led by Industry Minister Welshman Ncube said the European Union's position shows it now respects the right of Zimbabweans to choose their leaders.
President Robert Mugabe has demanded fresh polls to end his power-sharing arrangement with rival and current Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.
The Zanu PF leader claims the power-sharing deal is no longer workable, accussing his rivals of blocking key programmes such as the controversial indigenisation policy.
Tsvangirai insists new elections can only be held once political reforms have been implemented.
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