HARARE, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Zimbabwe government for the deployment of its election observer mission.

The MOU, signed by Zimbabwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo and European Union ambassador Philippe Van Damme, comes after the Zimbabwe government in March invited the EU to deploy an observation mission for the upcoming harmonized elections set to mid year.

It is the first time since 2002 that the EU will deploy an election observer team to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has invited 46 countries from across the world to observe the general elections.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is yet to proclaim the election date.