THE recent announcement by the European Union (EU) that it is ‘concerned’ with Zimbabwe’s human rights ‘situation’ and that it intends to fund the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), civil society and the media to ‘enhance’ democracy is yet another demonstration of the Western bloc’s long-held desire to interfere in Harare’s electoral processes.
In the aftermath of the spectacular failure of civil disobedience activities going under the banner of #movements, the EU is now ready to throw the final dice into the stuttering regime change agenda project through new slush funds which are in reality intrusion into the country’s democratic processes.
This frontal attack on Zimbabwe’s sovereignty provides a litmus test especially for ZANU PF which in recent times seemed to have been lulled into sleep by a seemingly relaxed regime change agenda initiative.
“We are interested particularly in the role of the media in elections and work is already in progress with civil society and ZEC to support a democratic electoral process…,” said head of international cooperation with the EU delegation to Zimbabwe, Paula Vazquez Horyaans.
What is alarming is the concern of EU with regards to Zimbabwe having what they call ‘democratic’ elections when their interference is undemocratic.
They create the impression that previous polls held in the country were undemocratic and yet there is deafening silence from the powers that be!
We have already said the notion of elections being deemed to be democratic only if they are held under the supervision of Western nations is warped.
Where are our authorities to stop this EU madness?
If we can manage to run our own affairs, our own economy and processes without the interference of the West then why is the EU being allowed to fund ZEC?
To whose benefit and to what end?
Have we not proven time and again that we can do it alone?
To the EU, the question is: How can you talk about democracy when you maintain sanctions on the country and are working for the opposition?
Is it not clear that by providing funding to ZEC, the civil society and the media, the EU is systematically aiding the opposition?
Where is ZANU PF in all this?
This issue must be looked into as a matter of urgency and dealt with before it is too late.
Consider the following.
In February 2002, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai acknowledged that his party was financed by European governments and corporations, which funnelled money through British political consultants, BSMG.
Before that, when the MDC was formed in 1999 a coterie of non governmental organisations (NGOs) had been roped in to act as conduits through which Western governments channeled money to the opposition.
The Canadian government doled out grants to NGOs through an organisation called Rights and Democracy.
Rights and Democracy worked hand in glove with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
In 2007, the United States State Department set aside US$30 million for various anti-Zimbabwe activities with particular attention being given to NGOs operating in rural areas.
The plan was to neutralise ZANU PF’s formidable following in these areas.
In early 2008, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the UK had increased its funding for civil society organisations operating in Zimbabwe from US$5 million to US$6,5 million.
Now, the EU is back in the picture, providing funding to the so-called civil society to ensure that there is what the West calls a ‘democratic election’ in the country and there is silence from the authorities!
Tired of lurking in the shadows, the State Department finally came out in the open in 2008 with Washington revealing it had ‘supported workshops to develop youth leadership skills necessary to confront social injustice through non-violent strategies’.
These are the kinds of skills members of the #movements have been trying to employ in the country in recent times.
Besides America and Britain, Zimbabwe’s civil society groups also received money from German, Australian and Canadian governments, the Ford Foundation, Freedom House, the Albert Einstein Institution, the International Centre for Nonviolent Conflict, Liberal International, the Mott Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers, South African Breweries, and billionaire financier George Soros’ Open Society Institute of Southern Africa.
Western capitalists provided sources of funding for these groupings.
An article in March 2008 by Stephen Gowans reveals the intricacy of the funding network.
“It would be truly naïve to believe, for example, that the International Centre for Nonviolent Conflict and Freedom House, both headed by Peter Ackerman, member of the US ruling class Council on Foreign Relations, a New York investment banker and former right hand man to Michael Milken of junk bond fame, is lavishing money and training on civil society groups in Zimbabwe out of humanitarian concern.
According to Noam Chomksy and Edward Herman, Freedom House has ties to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), ‘and has long served as a virtual propaganda arm of the (US) government and international right wing’.”
With the EU intrusive politics once again coming in the open, the onus is on the Government of Zimbabwe to negate the renewed appetite for regime change.
Let those with ears listen.