Maravi

US to broaden financial restrictions on Zim

US to broaden financial restrictions on Zim
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Thursday July 17, 2008 [04:00]

THE US government is seeking to broaden its financial restrictions on the Zimbabwean leadership, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer has stated. According to a statement issued by the US embassy in Harare, President George Bush's administration is seeking to expand its financial restrictions on Zimbabwe's leadership. The restrictions would include a greater number of individuals, corporations and government entities.

Frazer told US lawmakers on Tuesday that the US was encouraging other countries, especially those in Africa and the European Union, to adopt similar measures in the wake of the veto by China and Russia of a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution that would have imposed worldwide financial pressure on President Robert Mugabe's regime.

Frazer, who was addressing the Senate Foreign Relations African Affairs Subcommittee, stated that the US already had imposed financial and travel restrictions against 135 individuals and 30 corporate entities.

She stated that the imposed financial and travel restrictions were against those who had undermined their country's democratic process including members of President Mugabe's inner circle and some of their family members.

Frazer further stated that individual Americans or US corporations who violate the sanctions face penalties ranging from US$250,000 to US$500,000.

"We are looking to expand the category of Zimbabweans who are covered. We are also looking at sanctions on government entities as well, not just individuals," she stated.
Frazer added that the US Treasury Department was also targeting sectors of Zimbabwe's mining industry.

On the on-going political mediation, Frazer stated that the mediation process between the two sides was probably the most immediate issue in solving the violent political crisis.

She stated that the talks could succeed if they resulted in a transitional government that could then prepare for an election so that Zimbabwe could get back to a democratic path.
Frazer stated that the ruling ZANU-PF faced internal divisions even though President Mugabe holds most of the power in the country.

"We have an old man clinging to power who refuses to move aside which is presenting a problem for his own party," she stated.

Frazer urged the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to stand strong in any discussions for the will of the people and not just a seat in the government.

She stated that with the failure of the Security Council resolution, the council missed the opportunity to support the courageous efforts of the Zimbabwean people to change their lives peacefully through elections.

Frazer stated that Russia's change from its previous support of a multilateral statement threatening financial action against Zimbabwe's government was a bit of a whiplash for the US.

"It's hard to explain," she stated
She also stated that China was still finding its way in Africa and urged the government in Beijing to side with the people of Africa instead of non-democratic rulers.
"In Zimbabwe's case, given the popular support for the MDC shown by the March 29 vote, Zimbabwe's government largely was rejected by its people. A new day is coming in Zimbabwe and China would want to be on the right side of the forces of democratic change," Frazer stated.

And subcommittee chairman Russ Feingold (Democrat from Wisconsin) urged harsher worldwide sanctions against President Mugabe's regime.

"Now is the time to scale up, not give up on global action," stated Feingold. "We must not allow Zimbabwe to fall out of the international spotlight as it has many times before."

Labels: SANCTIONS, USA, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:54 AM