Zimbabwe

Tabled by Margrete Auken

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Zimbabwe,

– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

1. Concerned by the outbreak of cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe which caused the death of more than 800 people and whereas cholera is affecting nine out of ten Zimbabwe's provinces, and major hospitals failing to provide medical care to those in need,
   
2. Whereas the collapse of municipal services, such as potable water, absence of  sanitation, annual inflation rate that the government has estimated at 231 million percent, have all contributed to the current public health crisis,
   
3. Whereas according to the international medical humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, at least 1.4 million people are at risk of contracting the disease if the outbreak is not contained by addressing its root causes,
   
4. whereas life expectancy has dropped from 60 years for both sexes to 37 years for men and 34 for women in the past decade; and whereas 1.7 million people are now living with HIV in Zimbabwe,
   
5. Whereas the World Food Programme (WFP) fed 2 million Zimbabweans in October, but that figure is expected to rise to 5.1 million by early 2009, meaning that half of the country's population will soon be aid-reliant,
   
6. Whereas the health care system is paralysed by shortages of drugs and medical supplies, dilapidated infrastructure as well brain drain leave the citizens without adequate access ton health care,
   
7. Whereas the UN said that more than 16 000 cholera cases had been so far reported,
   
8. Whereas the underlying factor of the current cholera epidemic is the absence of solution to the ongoing political crisis and power sharing deal reached between Mugabe and opposition leader Tsvangarai,
   
9. Recalling that according to the power-sharing deal Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980, would retain the presidency and chair the cabinet and Tsvangirai, as prime minister, would head a council of ministers supervising the cabinet,
   
10. Whereas Mugabe's unwillingness to solve the post election political deadlock has deepened political and socio- economic crisis in Zimbabwe,
    
11. whereas the disastrous conduct of the legislative and presidential elections has exacerbated the already catastrophic humanitarian situation of Zimbabwe's population, forcing people to move away from their homes or leave the country,

1. Strongly appeals to the international community to ensure the rapid provision of substantial humanitarian aid to the people of Zimbabwe;
   
2. Calls on the Zimbabwean authorities to uphold the interest of its citizens and bring a viable solution to the current political, economic and social crisis which have an adverse impact on the livelihood of the population,
   
3. Expresses deep concern about the situation of Zimbabwean refugees seeking treatment for cholera in the Limpopo province, bordering Zimbabwe; calls on the Commission to support the neighbouring countries with financial and material humanitarian assistance;
   
4. Considers that a government of national unity is a solution for ending the crisis ; stresses that, in the power-sharing deal of 15 September 2008, the parties agreed to work together for a sustainable and lasting democratic and peaceful solution to Zimbabwe's current political, economic and social crisis;
   
5. Calls on the future government of national unity to set up a neutral and independent peace and reconciliation commission with a view to promoting a national healing process that will review the crimes against humanity, torture, rape and other crimes committed in internal conflicts;
   
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the ACP-EU Council, the Pan-African Parliament, the government and parliament of Zimbabwe, the African Union, the SADC and the UN Secretary-General.