The Presidency of the European Union condemns the violent break-up of a peaceful, church sponsored rally (a so called Prayer Meeting) of the Save Zimbabwe Campaign, during which one participant was killed, one was injured and many, including the opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Artur Mutambara, were arrested and in some cases abused. The Presidency expresses its condolences to the family of the participant killed.
The Presidency has noted with concern that a peaceful rally of which prior notification had been given was criminalized by the Government. The Presidency urges the release of the persons arrested. It expects them to be given access to legal assistance and any medical care they may require. The Presidency underlines the responsibility of the Zimbabwean Government to ensure that those arrested are safe and remain unharmed.
The Presidency condemns the ongoing violent suppression of the freedom of opinion and of assembly, as well as of other fundamental rights, and calls upon the Government to focus on resolving Zimbabwe's pressing political, economic and social problems in a dialogue with all of the country's political forces.
