US widens sanctions on Mugabe henchmen

US widens sanctions on Mugabe henchmen

JONATHAN Moyo

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By Agencies
03/03/04
THE United States is widening an existing sanctions regime against Zimbabwe to include seven government-related businesses.

The enhanced US sanctions ban any transactions with the seven black-listed groups.

The US State Department said the sanctions would apply to commercial farms "seized" by Zimbabwe Information Minister Jonathan Moyo; Zimbabwe Defence Industries, a state-owned arms maker and M&S Syndicate, a holding group owned by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

Also targeted were two companies "representing the interests" of retired Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Vitalis Zvinavashe, the State Department said.

"Should Zimbabwe's rulers continue to oppress its citizens and to resist forthright efforts toward resolving the country's political crisis, we are prepared to impose additional targeted financial and travel sanctions on those undermining democracy in Zimbabwe," the State Department said.

A high profile State Department human rights report, released last month, said Zimbabwe's government continued to oversee "a concerted campaign of violence, repression and intimidation."

"Torture by various methods is used against political opponents and human rights advocates," the report said.

The European Union recently twisted the knife on President Robert Mugabe's regime by renewing targetted sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe for a third year.

Zimbabwe's main opposition welcomed the renewal of sanctions against the country's leaders.

"We welcome all forms of continued pressure on the people who are the architects of chaos in this country," MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube told AFP.

European Union interior and justice ministers adopted an extended list of 95 Zimbabwean officials -- including Mugabe -- who are banned from entering EU countries and a freeze on their assets.

This will be the third year that the sanctions have been imposed on Zimbabwe after they were first applied in February 2002 over allegations of human-rights abuses and ballot fraud after Mugabe retained his grip on power in disputed elections.

"We hope that in due course all the pressure will force them to return to democracy, good governance, legality and stop the violence," Ncube said.

The MDC has lobbied for the renewal of the targeted sanctions, which ruling party officials say hurt ordinary people more than their intended targets.
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