Zimbabweans cast their votes in the closely-watched presidential and legislative elections on August 23, 2023. However, the European Union (EU) has announced that it is suspending financial aid to Zimbabwe’s electoral body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), due to concerns about its practices during the contested elections.
The EU, one of the project donors aiming to enhance the capacity of the ZEC, has been funding the project since 2022. The project, managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was originally planned to continue until December 2024.
With a contribution of $4.7 million (£3.7 million) to the project, the EU has already allocated a significant portion of its funds. However, on Tuesday, the EU declared that it would pull back from the project following concerns raised by international election observers regarding the independence and transparency of the ZEC during the 2023 elections.
The EU’s decision emphasizes the importance of responsible management of its development funds. In line with this, the process of suspending aid has been initiated, with the plan communicated to both the ZEC and Zimbabwe’s finance ministry.
Nevertheless, the EU has made it clear that it will continue to closely monitor the situation in Zimbabwe and may resume its support in the future.
The EU’s suspension of funding for the ZEC draws attention to the need for transparency and fairness in electoral processes, underscoring the significance of international observation in ensuring credible elections.
BBC/Jide Johnson.
