At loggerheads over Zimbabwe
With no Zimbabwean Parliamentarian at the Wiesbaden JPA, there was debate on the country but no resolution. JPA co-President, Glenys Kinnock, said that no visa application had been made by any Zimbabwean Parliamentarian. Four had been expected in Wiesbaden including three from the ruling Zanu-PF as well as Nelson Chamisa from the opposition MDC Party who was violently attacked on his way to a Brussels meeting in March 2007.
Many felt that even debate was a step too far without any Zimbabwean to respond. Malawi’s Ibrahim Matola was against the Assembly basing discussion on “media reports” whereas Boyce Sebatala (Botswana) said the opposition MDC was split and that “...they had their own gangs and not all violence was carried out by the Zanu-PF.” Atem Garang (Sudan) said he regretted that the UK had a hand to play in Zimbabwe’s problems.
Democratic Republic of Congo Parliamentarian, Lola Kisanga, said that the situation in Zimbabwe concerned the whole of Africa and appealed for a peaceful, lasting solution. Louis Straker of St. Vincent and the Grenadines suggested it was convenient for Zimbabwe to absence themselves from the Wiesbaden meeting. Nita Deerpalsing (Mauritius) spoke out against a Zimbabwean regime that “...was unable to bring solace to a suffering population.”
Many European Parliamentarians cited facts and figures about the impoverishment of Zimbabawe. Rolf Berend of the European People’s Party (Germany) said prices were going up hourly. Unemployment was 80%, he said, and a third of the population on food aid. “If we want to avoid a dissent into chaos we must act,” he added. JPA co-President, René Radembino-Coniquet (Gabon) called once again for the Zimbabwean government to accept a JPA fact-finding mission, a request previously turned down. Where ACP Parliamentarians and MEPs did find common ground was in voicing their support for the diplomatic initiatives towards Zimbabwe of South African President, Thabo Mbeki.
