MEP Geoffrey Van Orden speaking to SW Radio Africa’s Alex Bell on Diaspora Diaries

First up though, the European Parliament this week passed a unanimous resolution on Zimbabwe, which among other things voices support for SADC and its recent tough criticism of the political crisis in Zimbabwe. The resolution came two days after the UK parliament also resolved to support SADC and its plans for an election roadmap in Zimbabwe.

Well my first guest tonight is MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, who spearheads the European Parliament’s campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe. Mr Van Orden, thank you very much for your time today. First of all, we’re once again witnessing a deteriorating and very serious situation in Zimbabwe. What’s your reaction to what’s happening there?

Van Orden: Well of course we’re appalled. I mean, just as we’re appalled that this situation really has gone on for so long and the suffering of the Zimbabwean people has continued for so long. And this is immensely frustrating for us. But of course it’s real suffering for the people that have to live under this appalling regime. So we want to do all that we can to try and bring change for the better as quickly as possible.

AB: Well we know that you really have been leading the pressure on Zimbabwe in Europe for quite a while now. Do you think there is more awareness of the situation in Zimbabwe from Europe’s side?

Van Orden: Yes, but can I first of all say, that I am very encouraged by the SADC summit which took place in March in Livingston, Zambia. It seems to me that really for the first time other African leaders in the region are properly getting engaged in this issue and seeing it for what it is. And it was a very robust communiqué that came out of that SADC summit. So maybe at last the penny has dropped and people are realising that things need to change.

AB: That SADC communiqué as you said, it’s really encouraging. It is probably the first time that SADC has been so strong and strongly worded with the situation in Zimbabwe. They’ve made a lot of pledges to help toward an election roadmap. What kind of support do you think SADC especially needs going forward?

Van Orden: Well from Europe’s point of view, I want to make sure that we continue to send a very consistent message to Mugabe and those that support him. We want to send an unambiguous message that we want democratic change in Zimbabwe and once that takes place we stand ready to assist the Zimbabwean people with a package of economic assistance. I think that is clear. So we really need to push ahead with this, and I hope that diplomats from the European countries and indeed from the European Union itself will impress on people in Southern Africa, and the governments with whom they have dealings, of the need to keep up the pressure on Mugabe and really bring about change. Because we’ve always felt that the key to change in Zimbabwe lies with the people themselves, but in particular the support of the neighbouring countries.

AB: Now, there has been the resolution on Zimbabwe, which was passed last week. What do you think is most critical about this resolution at this point?

Van Orden: Well, first of all, can I say that this was passed unanimously by the parliament. That’s representatives of 27 countries from all the different political parties right across the parliament, supported this resolution. It’s a robust resolution. It is of course saying we should keep these restrictive measures in place, which are of course focused on, targeted on Mugabe and his cronies and in no way affect the Zimbabwean people themselves. Those measures have to stay in place until Mugabe and his people have moved on. That’s the first thing. Then we’re saying we want the member states of the European Union and the Council and the Commission to actively engage with the African Union and SADC to bring about change for the better. And in particular at this moment, to do all we can to make sure the next elections take place in the right atmosphere, that these are genuinely democratic elections, that there is no foul play. That all preparations are done properly and that the elections themselves, not just on the day, but in terms of all that happens around any election, the preparation of ballot papers, the voters list, and all these things, are done according to acceptable international standards. And I think the European Union stands ready to assist in way that it can in that process, and it of course has a lot of experience in these matters.

AB: Now we know that Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF are very scathing about Western involvement, and we understand that they are absolutely furious that the EU and UK have both pledged to support SADC in their quest for an election roadmap. What do you make of their response?

Van Orden: Well this is the traditional, typical fall back position of Mugabe. All the time he tries to play this sort of old colonial card, as if all the problems in Zimbabwe are all to with the British and the Europeans and all the rest of it. I mean I really think that any reasonable person, their credibility must be strained to the absolute limit listening to this sort of nonsense coming out of Mugabe. The people of Zimbabwe and the international community know that man has ruined what was once a very successful country, the bread basket of Southern Africa, and a country with a very bright future. And it is Mugabe and his cronies, where they have lined their own pockets at the expense of the Zimbabwean people, where they’ve taken over these farms, made them economically useless, and at the same time handed them over to their cronies. And just about every action they take is detrimental to the Zimbabwean economy. And they couldn’t even stand by Global Political Agreement that they have with Morgan Tsvangirai who was supposed to be Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, but who finds all the time that his powers are circumscribed because Mugabe and his clique hangs on to the real sinews of power.

AB: It seems there is this amazing momentum building, there was this resolution passed unanimously in Europe; the UK has also said it condemns violence in Zimbabwe and supports the process for a free and fair election; SADC has finally turned around and been quite strong. What can happen to keep this momentum building?

Van Orden: Well there must be no chat in the margins which in any way indicates any weakening of resolve. I think the trouble is you’ll always get people in the corridors trying to say different things and soften the message and we must make sure that doesn’t happen. What I would say it this, Mugabe is passed it quite honestly, we’re not going to change him. But it’s the people who keep him in power that we need to be talking to, and we need to say that, even in you’re in ZANU PF, it’s not too late to see the light and come over to the side of good and the side of the Zimbabwean people, and give up this man and get on to a different route. That’s the message we need to get through. Those people in the police and in the army and in the financial system, those companies that keep Mugabe in power and feed him his money, those people have to get the message that, look, change now and there can be forgiveness and reconciliation. But if you continue to keep this appalling structure in place, then of course people will look at you very differently in the future.

AB: One of the resolutions has called on the EU to refuse to accept any Zimbabwean ambassador to the EU. We know that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is calling for the nominated ambassador, Margaret Muchada not to be recognised. Has there been any movement that we know of from this situation?

Van Orden: Well that sit is still somewhat ambiguous. It is lost in EU bureaucracy at the moment. I am writing again to the European High Representative, who has to deal with these things among others, in an attempt to get clarification of this situation. The parliament is quite clear: The EU should not accept a Zimbabwean ambassador who is not nominated though due constitutional process and respect for GPA, and quite clearly Mrs Muchada does not fit those criteria.

AB: Final question, Mr Van Orden, with this momentum in place and the kind of pressure we have seen, you must be quite confident that we are finally moving towards a period of change in Zimbabwe?

Van Orden: The only thing I have confidence in is that, as each day passes, Mugabe is a step closer to meeting his maker. That is the only thing I have confidence in. I am slightly more optimistic that we have seen what seems to be a bit of a change of attitude among regional governments, and I think people are very aware that now is the moment to be seized in order to get change brought about. But for goodness sake, ever since I have been in the EU parliament, which is 12 years now, I have been fighting this battle. And it is amazing, astonishing that Mugabe is still in power.

That was Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP, who spearheads the European Parliament’s campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe.