Zimbabwe, EU intensify engagement

The European Union’s High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini  has met Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Busi Moyo.

The meeting followed up on the visit of Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica in Zimbabwe and represented another important step in developing relations between the EU and Zimbabwe.

The High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini welcomed the commitment of the government of Zimbabwe to peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible elections. The High Representative /Vice President Federica Mogherini announced that the EU would deploy an EU Electoral Observation Mission for the upcoming harmonised elections – a significant additional support to Zimbabwe’s democratisation process.

The High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini underlined the importance of having a legal framework conducive to freedom of expression, freedom of the media and freedom of assembly in place in time for the forthcoming elections.

The High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini also noted the will of the new authorities to bring forward comprehensive political and economic reforms and confirmed the EU readiness to further support the country in this regard.