(HERALD) Govt queries exclusion of US, UK firms from sanctions list
Govt queries exclusion of US, UK firms from sanctions listHerald Reporter
GOVERNMENT has questioned the motive behind the exclusion of American and British-owned companies from the expanded sanctions list despite accusations that they were aiding the State through their continued operations in Zimbabwe. The US last week placed some Zimbabwean companies, both private and State-owned, on the revised sanctions list accusing them of keeping the Government afloat while some British corporations defied calls for them to suspend local operations.
Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde George Charamba said the West wanted to freeze economic activities in Zimbabwe while waiting for a "new Government" of their choice.
"Their companies are in place while they are re-ranging the political deck. Their investments are no longer politically secure and they want a situation of stasis," he said.
Cde Charamba noted that the exclusion of the US and British corporations was despite the fact that some of them supplied the State with its daily needs.
"Unilever is here moulding soap tablets for State House. Why is it not on the American sanctions list if they are so concerned with companies doing business with (President) Mugabe? Caltex is here powering the presidential limousine, why is it not on sanctions list?"
Cde Charamba said the British and Americans were concerned by the re-emergence of the Sino-Russia political power as evidenced by the two countries’ decision to veto a Western-backed resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe at the UN Security Council early this month.
"The Americans fear what they regard as the predatory Sino-Russia capital, which is stalking the globe seeking business deals to sign," he said.
Cde Charamba said the inclusion of some parastatals on the expanded sanctions list was also meant to disable the Government’s Look East Policy by blunting its investment vehicles.
The Government was studying various situations of countries under the US economic embargo like Cuba for a solution to challenges being faced in the country.
Countries under American sanctions such as Cuba and Iran avoid trading in the volatile US currency in preference of such stable currencies like the euro while others have deliberately devalued it against their currencies.
The US department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets last Friday placed 17 companies among them the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company, Agricultural Development Bank of Zimbabwe and the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe under sanctions.
It also designated the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, Zimre Holdings Limited, ZB Financial
Holdings Limited and its major subsidiaries — ZB Holdings Limited, Intermarket Holdings Limited and Scotfin Limited.
Also included were Oryx Natural Resources, Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (OSLEG), Divine Homes, Comoil (Pvt) Ltd and Famba Safaris.
Yesterday the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries described the move by the US as very unfortunate.
"As CZI we have never supported sanctions of any nature. We are an organisation that believes in dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement. Sanctions have repercussions on children, mothers, the elderly, the vulnerable and we do not think it would be in the interest of the international community to jeopardise the lives of men in the street," said CZI president Mr Callisto Jokonya.
"We have no say in politics in Zimbabwe and we feel this is very unfortunate."
Mr Jokonya said business was looking forward to the ongoing talks between Zanu-PF and the MDC formations and urged the nation not to be distracted "from what we consider to be the only solution to our nation’s problems".
"The negotiations would yield the intended objective of peace and joy in Zimbabwe," he said.
Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, NEOCOLONIALISM, SANCTIONS
posted by MrK @ 8:48 AM
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