EU Presidency declaration on the Zengeza by-elections in Zimbabwe

Declaration by the EU in the wake of the Zengeza parliamentary by-elections.

The European Union condemns the violence, intimidation and irregularities before and during the Zengeza parliamentary by-elections on 27-28 March 2004. The electoral environment cannot be deemed to have been free, fair or safe for the voters of Zengeza. The shooting incidents, which left one person dead and others wounded, are of special concern. The events in Zengeza set a worrying precedent for future elections, including the upcoming by-elections in Lupane in May 2004 and the planned March 2005 parliamentary elections.

The European Union calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to allow every political party an equal level of electoral freedom. The EU emphasises the importance of creating an electoral environment conducive to free and fair elections, in line with international standards such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum's Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC Region. The European Union calls on all political parties to refrain from violence and intimidation, before, during and after elections, and for the authorities to prevent violence, intimidation and irregularities.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

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