EU stops funding ZEC | Business Times

STAFF WRITER

 

The European Union (EU) has announced that it is suspending financial assistance   to Zimbabwe’s electoral body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), due to reservations about the  country’s contested August elections.

Since 2022, the EU has contributed to a project to increase ZEC’s capacity.

The project, which is run by the United Nations Development Programme, was to end in December 2024.

The EU had contributed $4.7 million (£3.7m) to the project, some of which has been spent.

However, the EU said on Tuesday  this week that it would step back from the project, which “is currently under scrutiny due to concerns raised by several international election observers regarding the independence and transparency of ZEC during the 2023 elections”.

The union also said that the funding withdrawal will promote

responsible management of EU development funds.

EU has started the aid suspension process and has communicated the plan to ZEC and Zimbabwe’s Finance ministry.

However, the union said it will continue monitoring developments in Zimbabwe and could resume support.

 

 

 

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