Britain pushes for Zimbabwe sanctions renewal

Britain pushes for Zimbabwe sanctions renewal

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By Staff Reporter

BRITAIN will be seeking a further extension of the European Union targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his top lieutenants, a minister said.

Geoff Hoon, the UK Minister for Europe told the House of Commons this week that the sanctions were "working", and the UK would be calling for their renewal when they expire in February.

Responding to a question by Conservative MP Henry Billingham, Hoon said consultation had already started on a new sanctions regime.

"We believe that the measures, which target the regime members and not ordinary Zimbabweans, are effective and should be continued," Hoon said.

"It is vital that we continue to isolate the regime...we have no quarrel with the people of Zimbabwe and no reason to cause further harm to a population who are already suffering as a result of the appalling decisions of their leaders.

"That is why we draw the distinction between sanctions that are aimed at the regime and other measures that might further damage the people of Zimbabwe."

European Union sanctions against President Robert Mugabe were first introduced in 2002 after the Zimbabwe government ejected EU election observers and Mugabe won a hotly-disputed presidential election.

The EU joined America, Australia and New Zealand in condemning the elections which they said were flawed and rigged.

The sanctions target 96 senior officials in Mugabe's government and ruling Zanu PF party who are barred from travel to any of the EU countries. They also carry the threat of an asset-freeze for any of the blacklisted officials.

Julian Lewis, a Conservative MP, tackled Hoon on what he said was a lack of "practical consequences" that had affected the Zimbabwean officials as a result of the sanctions.

"I have made it clear that we would like the international community, including Zimbabwe's southern African neighbours, to do more, but I do not accept that there are no practical consequences," Hoon said.

"If that were so, the regime in Zimbabwe would not protest so loud and so long about the impact that the sanctions have. The fact is that its leaders do protest, which means that the sanctions are having some effect on them."

In a web chat with New Zimbabwe.com readers this week, Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono claimed the country was under "declared and undeclared sanctions".

"Declared sanctions are sanctions which are pronounced and normally legislated by the imposing country or organisation. Targeted or smart sanctions fall under this category. Undeclared sanctions are not announced but are implied from the declared sanctions. A good example is where Non-Governmental Organisations have moved their operations out of Zimbabwe," said Gono.

The United States, Australia and New Zealand have also announced their own range of "targeted sanctions" against the Zimbabwe government.

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