Posted on June 26, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

The EU is issuing a stern travel warning against unnecessary travel to Zimbabwe as tensions mount following a controversial presidential poll.

Earlier this week, Britain stripped Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe of his knighthood, which was awarded to him by Elizabeth II in 1994.  The British mission in Zimbabwe also issued travel warnings as violence mounted even after the withdrawal of opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

In a statement, the British mission said: “We are now advising against all but essential travel to Zimbabwe at this time due to the continuing tension surrounding the election and the deployment of uniformed forces (police and military) and war veterans across the country.”

Officials in Germany have also encouraged tourists to be on high alert, saying:  “Tourist trips must be put on hold and only necessary business trips taken as there are no signs that the violence will decrease.”

Zimbabwe’s political situation went into crisis mode on Sunday after Tsvangirai announced that he was pulling out of Friday’s presidential election, saying violence had made a fair vote impossible.  Tsvangirai had beaten Mugabe in the first round of the election, but failed to get the majority required to take the presidency of his rival. 

The UN Security Council has condemned the violence in Zimbabwe.  Meanwhile, Britain, France and the United States have branded Mugabe’s regime as “illegitimate.”