Gono escapes as EU travel ban list extended

Gono escapes as EU travel ban list extended

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By Staff Reporter

RESERVE Bank governor Gideon Gono has escaped European Union sanctions, sparking a volley of protests from Zimbabwe opposition groups.

Gono was largely expected to be a new addition to the enlarged list of 120 senior lieutenants of President Robert Mugabe. Previously, 95 officials were banned from travel throughout the European Union, and had their assets frozen.

An official of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said a clarification was sought from the drafters of the sanctions list.

"Basically they said Gono was not a member of te Zanu PF politburo, central committee or cabinet," an MDC official said. "I find that criteria flawed because not only is this guy Mugabe's banker, financier and adviser but he is directing some dangerous policies like the current demolition of poeople's houses."

Last year, Gono flew into the UK to promote his Homelink project to raise foreign currency for the country's failing economy. He breezed through because his name did not appear on the sanctions list.

For a long time, Gono has been Mugabe and his wife Grace's personal banker. He has supplied foreign currency to Mugabe's shopaholic wife on her foreign trips, and is one of his most trusted officials.

The confusion over the list released earlier this week was not helped by the presence of former Harare mayor Solomon Tawengwa who died last year.

Reacting to the sanctions renewal, Zimbabwe's State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa blasted: “The devil is continuing with its devilish ways. We do not expect any good from them. They want us to level the playing field for the MDC while they are not levelling it with Zanu PF. The ban means we won’t be able to go to Europe to tell the public there about the lies they are spreading about Zimbabwe."

The EU and its American allies imposed sanctions on President Robert Mugabe's government after the disputed presidential elections in March 2002. Western observers described the elections as flawed after scores of opposition supporters were killed, including two aides to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The revised EU list now includes news faces: Manicaland Provincial Governor Tinaye Chigudu, Deputy Minister for Industry and International Trade Phineas Chihota, Minister of State for Public and Interactive Affairs Chen Chimutengwende, Zanu PF Politburo Committee members Alice Chimbudzi and Victoria Chitepo.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairman George Chiweshe, Chairman for Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) Theophilus Gambe, Minister of Information and Publicity and his deputy Tichaona Jokonya and Bright Matonga were also added on the list.

Mashonaland East Provincial governor Ray Kaukonde, Deputy Minister for Rural Housing and Social Amenities Joel Biggie Matiza, Minister of Foreign Affairs and his deputy Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Obert Matshalaga respectively, Deputy Minister for Health and Child Welfare Edwin Muguti, Minister for Water Resources and Infrastructural Development Munacho Mutezo were also included.

The net also captured Zanu PF Politburo deputy Commissariat Richard Ndlovu, Deputy Minister for Agriculture Sylvester Nguni, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Hubert Magadzire Nyanhongo, Zanu PF Politburo Deputy Secretary of Science and Technology George Nyathi, Zanu PF Politburo Deputy Secretary for Finance Khantibhal Patel, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Morris Sakabuya and Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare Tendai Savanhu.

Chief Elections Officer Lovemore Sekeramayi, Deputy Minister Economic Development Samuel Undenge and Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Patrick Zhuwao also suffered the ban.
Additional reporting Daily Mirror
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