London
22 July 2008
The European Union Tuesday tightened sanctions against Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe. The EU foreign ministers added 37 morepeople to the EU list of individuals under a visa ban and asset freezethat already includes the president and members of his inner circle. Now, for the first time, companies have also been added to the list.Tendai Maphosa has more in this report from VOA's London News Center.
Theadditional sanctions come a day after President Robert Mugabe andMorgan Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Changeagreed to open power sharing talks aimed at solving Zimbabwe'spolitical crisis.
EU spokesman John Clancy tells VOA this is a"very positive step," but there is need to maintain pressure on Mr.Mugabe.
"It's not a simple handshake over a memorandum of understandingdespite us recognizing its importance, that suddenly means theinternational community must simply return to business as usual withZimbabwe. It's simply not the case. It's very important that theaverage citizen in Zimbabwe realizes that the international communityis not simply going to forget the last months of violence andintimidation that they have had to face coming from the governmentauthorities," he said.
The EU has refused to recognize theresult of the June 27 presidential run-off poll in which Mr. Mugabewas the sole candidate. Opposition leader Tsvangirai, who won the firstround in March, withdrew from the run-off citing violence against hisparty and supporters.
Earlier this month, an effort by theBritish and U.S. governments to impose U.N. Security Council sanctions onMr. Mugabe was vetoed by Russia and China.
Clancy stressed thatthe European sanctions target individuals responsible for human rightsabuses and not ordinary Zimbabweans. He says the bloc will maintainhumanitarian support for Zimbabwe's needy.
"We would like to see as afirst step the authorities in Zimbabwe allowing humanitarian aid to thefull extent that is should be allowed 100 percent access forinternational humanitarian aid workers. Let us not forget that RobertMugabe, his government, his authority blocked humanitarian aid to thecivilian population, to the most vulnerable people just days before thesecond round of the elections. That situation has not changed," he said.
TheEU first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 citing human rightsabuses and electoral irregularities in the 2002 presidential election.The sanctions also include an arms and military material embargo.
Thetravel ban does not stop Mr. Mugabe from traveling to internationalorganization meetings such as the United Nations. Earlier this year, hetook part in the summit of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) in Rome.