HARARE
–
The
European
Union’s
ambassador
to
Zimbabwe
has
raised
concern
over
shrinking
civic
space
and
political
repression
in
the
country,
warning
that
developments
affecting
fundamental
freedoms
are
increasingly
troubling
for
Brussels.
Speaking
during
an
engagement
with
journalists
in
Harare,
Katrin
Hagemann
said
while
the
EU
remains
committed
to
strengthening
cooperation
with
Zimbabwe,
it
is
closely
monitoring
the
human
rights
situation.
The
ruling
Zanu
PF
party
has
tabled
planned
constitutional
amendments
to
extend
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
Police
banned
a
public
meeting
called
by
the
Accountability
Lab
to
debate
the
amendments
while
Baird
Gore,
an
activist
opposed
to
the
amendments,
was
abducted
and
beaten
in
Harare.
“It’s
quite
interesting
to
see
how
muted
the
response
has
been
so
far,
including
from
civil
society,”
Hagemann
said.
“Many
have
been
unresponsive,
and
we
understand
why.
In
some
cases,
it
has
become
very
difficult
for
civil
society
to
speak
up
as
long
as
they
are
not
registered.”
She
said
the
Private
Voluntary
Organisations
(PVO)
Act
signed
into
law
last
year
was
already
having
a
chilling
effect.
“As
long
as
organisations
have
not
received
their
(registration)
certificate,
people
are
being
very
cautious
about
speaking
out.
We
are
seeing
that,
and
it
worries
us,”
she
observed.
The
ambassador
also
expressed
concern
over
the
treatment
of
opposition
political
figures.
“We
are
concerned
about
the
arrests
we
have
seen
and
the
suppression
that
occurs
when
opposition
figures
try
to
hold
press
conferences,
sometimes
finding
they
cannot
because
the
venue
is
shut
down
or
the
building
has
been
burnt
down.
These
things
are
happening,
and
they
are
worrying.”
Despite
the
concerns,
Hagemann
welcomed
what
she
described
as
progressive
developments
within
Zimbabwe’s
prison
system,
particularly
the
introduction
of
a
new
parole
framework
announced
last
year.
The
framework
allows
for
the
conditional
release
of
inmates
under
supervision
before
completion
of
their
full
sentences
and
is
expected
to
help
decongest
prisons
while
strengthening
rehabilitation
and
broader
correctional
reforms.
Hagemann
said
Zimbabwe’s
economic
recovery
hinges
on
progress
under
the
Structured
Dialogue
on
Arrears
Clearance
and
Debt
Restructuring.
She
said
the
EU
remains
fully
engaged
in
supporting
the
process,
calling
it
“essential
for
restoring
Zimbabwe’s
access
to
international
financing.”
“We
welcome
the
positive
momentum
we
have
seen
at
the
beginning
of
the
year,”
she
said.
“Arrears
clearance
is
not
just
a
technical
exercise;
it
is
central
to
rebuilding
confidence
and
unlocking
new
opportunities
for
investment.”
Hagemann
co-chairs
the
Governance
Track
under
the
dialogue
alongside
Zimbabwe’s
minister
of
justice
Ziyambi
Ziyambi.
She
said
the
EU
would
continue
to
press
for
transparency,
adherence
to
the
rule
of
law
and
predictable
governance
as
critical
foundations
for
long-term
financial
stability.
The
ambassador
reiterated
that
strengthening
trade
and
investment
remains
central
to
EU–Zimbabwe
relations.
The
EU
is
one
of
Zimbabwe’s
largest
trading
partners
and
offers
duty-free,
quota-free
access
to
its
27
member
states.
However,
she
said
Zimbabwe
is
not
fully
exploiting
that
opportunity.
“Zimbabwe
exports
almost
US$1
billion
worth
of
goods
to
the
EU,
but
with
only
around
200
companies
exporting,
there
is
huge
untapped
capacity,”
Hagemann
said.
“We
want
to
see
more
Zimbabwean
businesses
entering
the
EU
market.
The
conditions
are
there,
now
it
is
about
confidence,
standards
compliance
and
ensuring
an
enabling
business
environment.
“Predictability
matters
to
investors.
Strong
institutions
matter.
Zimbabwe
has
the
potential,
the
challenge
now
is
ensuring
the
right
environment
for
investment
to
grow.”
Hagemann
also
highlighted
EU-backed
investment
initiatives
under
the
Global
Gateway
programme,
including
support
for
major
infrastructure
projects
such
as
the
rehabilitation
of
Kariba
Dam,
which
she
described
as
critical
for
Zimbabwe’s
long-term
energy
security.
Looking
ahead,
she
said
she
intends
to
travel
widely
across
the
country
to
better
understand
the
concerns
and
aspirations
of
Zimbabweans.
“I
want
to
listen,
to
learn
and
to
understand
the
hopes
and
aspirations
that
drive
Zimbabweans
forward,”
she
said.