EU monitors still waiting for Zimbabwe clearance

Date: 07/02/02

ZIMBABWE has still not given the EU the go-ahead to monitor its forthcoming presidential election, despite repeated warnings that its ruling elite risks having sanctions imposed.

Francesca Mosca, head of the European Commission's Harare office, said that as of last night (6 February) she had not received any invitation from the Mugabe administration to deploy election observers.

'We were told the invitation is going to come today but in Zimbabwe you can never be sure of anything,' she said.

Mosca denied reports by the country's broadcasting service ZBC that some of the observers were already working in the country, disguised as tourists.

The Commission wants a 'core team' of six observers to begin work this week and hopes to gradually increase the number to about 150 in the days leading up to the 9-10 March poll.

Earlier this week the UK, the state's former colonial ruler, expressed outrage over the arrest of The Independent's journalist in Harare. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Basildon Peta's detention was a breach of the warning that Mugabe's regime will be punished with sanctions if it doesn't respect press freedom.

Zimbabwe has still not given the EU the go-ahead to monitor its forthcoming presidential election, despite repeated warnings that its ruling elite risks having sanctions imposed.