ZIMBABWE: Updates from the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

Dear Friends,

The issue of Zimbabwe was raised in three ways at the 17th Session of the African Caribbean Pacific – European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) currently underway in Prague, Czech Republic. Over 100 Parliamentarians from across Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific regions and the EU are meeting for this current Session of the JPA which takes place between 4 – 9.04.09:
1. Today 07 April 2009 during question time to the Council,
2. yesterday during the opening session by Glenys Kinnock the Co-President of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and
3. later during the day during the plenary question time to the Commission.

The following is the link to the reply given by the Commission:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/60_17/pdf/replies_en.pdf

The following is a link to the press release that was released today with emphasis on food and financial crisis to ensure that the G20 deal delivers for developing countries:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/60_17/pdf/crise_en.pdf

The Brenthurst Foundation has released the 04/2009 discussion paper entitled, ”Scan of Zimbabwe Economic Recovery Literature Discussion Paper”. This paper focuses on steps needed to revive the economy once the political situation returns to normalcy. It is aimed at identifying the most relevant research about the path to economic reconstruction in Zimbabwe. The document can be accessed from the reference publications through the following link: http://www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org/

The Economist issued a press statement regarding the calls to ban trade in Zimbabwean diamonds with fears of human rights violations. They say this will do little for government plans to form joint ventures with international miners.
http://viewswire.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=VWArticleVW3&article_id=104412795&country_id=1250000325&page_title=Latest+analysis <http://viewswire.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=VWArticleVW3&article_id=104412795&country_id=1250000325&page_title=Latest+analysis>

On the same issue Partnership Africa Canada published a report on diamonds in Zimbabwe. The full report can be accessed through the following link:

http://www.pacweb.org/e/images/stories/documents/18_zimbabwe-diamonds_march09-eng.pdf

The report describes the role of diamonds in Zimbabwe economy and their place in the country’s repressive governance. It describes growing evidence of smuggling, militarization of diamond resources and the killings of unarmed diamond diggers by police and armed forces.

MISA-Zimbabwe issued a Communique on 06 April 09 in which they are informing that Zimbabwe’s Information and Communication Technology sector has been ranked at 132 out of 134 countries on the network readiness index list according to the Global Information Technology report of 2008-2009.
Please visit hyperlink below.

http://www.misazim.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&
task=view&id=498&Itemid=1 <http://www.misazim.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=498&Itemid=1>