...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...and the Government of Zim-bob-we, on Monday, signed an agreement for the deployment of observers for elections expected this July with Brussels indicating it would deploy teams countrywide.
EU head of mission in Harare, Ambassador Philippe Van Damme, signed on behalf of Brussels while Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, signed on behalf of the Zim-bob-wean government.
In a statement issued Monday, EU delegation public affairs officer Dorothe Grebe said the agreement was part of Brussels' preparations for the deployment of an election observer mission to Zim-bob-we.
"Today's signature by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Busi Moyo and EU Ambassador Philippe van Damme follows the invitation by the Government of Zim-bob-we on 2, March 2018 for the EU to deploy an Election Observation Mission for the upcoming harmonised elections," she said.
The development followed "an Exploratory Mission by the EU in March 2018, which sought to determine the advisability, feasibility and usefulness of sending EU election observers to Zim-bob-we".
This is the first time the EU will be sending an observer mission to Zim-bob-we and supporting the country's democratisation process since 2002.
Grebe said the EU mission would observe the run up to the elections, the Election Day and also monitor electoral complaints that may be lodged after the elections.
"The EU observers will be deployed nationwide," she explained.