THE European Union (EU) is set to leave only 10 Zanu PF officials on the targeted sanctions list of President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle, following progressive developments, particularly the constitutional referendum which most observers ruled had been held peacefully.
STAFF REPORTER
A British member of the EU Parliament, Geoffrey Van Orden, yesterday said there were “moves to lift the EU restrictive measures on most of Mugabe supporters that had previously been banned from Europe and had their assets frozen”.
“Only 10 individuals from the 91 previously banned and two companies will remain on the list,” said Van Orden, who chairs the European Parliament’s “Friends of Zimbabwe” group. He, however, did not divulge the names of the officials to be removed or those remaining on the list.
The EU eased sanctions on Zimbabwe last month by lifting asset freezes and travel bans on 27 officials, including six ministers, and one company – Divine Home (Pvt) Ltd, owned by Zanu PF official David Chapfika.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation — involved in the controversial mining of diamonds in eastern Zimbabwe — is likely to remain on the list. There was an outcry recently when the six ministers were removed from the list with Zanu PF intensifying calls for everyone to be removed.
But Van Orden said: “We recognise that there has been some movement in the right direction and this needs to be reinforced. The referendum was just a first step. The really important event will be the elections later in the year.
“Our concern now is that all the processes connected with the elections should be carried out fairly and correctly and that campaigning is free from violence and intimidation.
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“A reduction in the restrictive measures is just about acceptable provided they can be quickly reimposed if there is any sign of violence, intimidation or manipulation of the electoral process. My understanding is that this is exactly what has been agreed.
“The changes meet the wishes of other African countries and will signal to Zanu PF insiders and to army and police chiefs that they have nothing to fear from real democratic change.
“The ball is now in Mugabe’s court.”
The EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 following presidential elections which it said were flawed.
