THE European Union says it will concentrate its support to Zimbabwe in areas of protecting and promoting civil and political rights and the reinforcement of independent constitutional commissions till 2020.
BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
The support comes as the government has come under the spotlight in the recent past for suppressing public dissent and demonstrations and failure to fully operationalise commissions such as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.
The EU made the commitment in a statement to civil society marking International Human Rights Day in the capital last week.
The priority areas are protection and promotion of civil and political rights, with particular focus on media and electoral freedoms and the reinforcement of democratic institutions, including support to the constitutional commissions, Parliament and the Judiciary.
The funding will also go towards gender, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality and social inclusion and building a stronger civil society that promotes peace and reconciliation and citizen participation.
“These four priorities are to be promoted through the EU’s regular dialogue both at political and policy level, with the government, the independent commissions, Parliament, civil society and private sector, but also through EU and member States’ programmes in support of human rights and democracy,” the EU said.
The support comes as human rights defenders and civil society activists have suffered at the hands of State security apparatus this year, as they crushed peaceful demonstrations. Itai Dzamara, an activist, is still missing more than 15 months after he was abducted by suspected security agents.
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The EU said it was also worried by the media environment and threats to freedom of expression, such as the new restrictions being further imposed, particularly on the use of social media.
“These rights are often restricted by the implementation of old Acts such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act and journalists, activists and human rights defenders are often intimidated, harassed and arrested on grounds of these restrictive laws that are no longer in line with the Constitution,” the EU said.
