Australia, US, EU to maintain sanctions against Zimbabwe
Australia, US, EU to maintain sanctions against ZimbabweBy Kingsley Kaswende and George Chellah in Harare
Thursday September 18, 2008 [04:00]
AUSTRALIA, United States and the EU have said there will be no automatic end to sanctions against Zimbabwe following the power-sharing deal, despite the call by African leaders and the Zimbabwean government to do so. While they all welcomed the deal between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the two opposition MDC formations, they said the lifting of sanctions would depend on how the deal would be implemented.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Tuesday that sanctions would be reviewed depending on human rights progress and social and economic reconstruction.
"The proof will be in the actual implementation," Smith said.
In a statement, the 27 EU ministers said they would want for the agreement's implementation, especially the "immediate cessation of all forms of intimidation and violence".
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Zimbabwe's new administration would have to make significant progress before the lifting of sanctions was considered.
"In principle we stand ready to support Zimbabwe's new administration, to bring about much-needed change, but the extent and nature of our support will be determined by the actions that the new administration takes on the ground," he said.
US Ambassador to Zimbabwe , James McGee, said the US is taking a "very careful wait-and-see attitude" about the power-sharing agreement.
He said if it works, the US would be very willing to work with the people of Zimbabwe.
The sanctions on Zimbabwe include a ban on non-humanitarian aid, prohibition of defence links, and restrictions on financial transactions and visas for members of some government and business leaders.
However, the International Monetary Fund, which suspended financial and technical assistance in 2006, said it stood ready for talks with the new government about stabilising the economy.
But the organisation said the Zimbabwean government would have to take clear steps to resolve the economic crisis.
On Monday, African leaders urged the international community to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe and provide financial resources to rebuild the country following the signing of the power-sharing deal.
A scheduled meeting on Tuesday between President Robert Mugabe and the new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to finalise the cabinet line-up was postponed but the leaders are expected to meet soon to allocate ministries in an all inclusive government.
They are expected to discuss the sharing of ministries following the signing of a power-sharing agreement on Monday.
Since the signing of the power-sharing agreement, President Mugabe has been meeting the ZANU-PF politburo, the party's highest decision-making body, at the ruling party's headquarters.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the meeting between the three leaders would take place "any time soon", without specifically mentioning the date.
ZANU-PF media sub-committee chairperson Patrick Chinamasa, who was also one of the ruling party's negotiators in the brokered power-sharing deal told the state media that the three leaders would themselves meet and apportion the 31 ministries they agreed to establish on between the three political parties.
"Our role as negotiators is over. We cannot have the power to select people who will make up the Cabinet or even appoint ourselves to that Cabinet," Chinamasa said. "We play no role at all in apportioning the ministries to the parties. That is the prerogative of the principals who would soon meet specifically for that."
According to the power-sharing agreement that was signed on Monday, ZANU-PF will have 15 ministries, MDC-Tsvangirai faction 13 ministries leaving the smaller MDC faction led by Prof Mutambara with three.
There will also be 15 deputy ministers with ZANU-PF getting eight, MDC-Tsvangirai faction, six and MDC-Mutambara faction one.
Tsvangirai will become Prime Minister with Prof Mutambara as one of his deputies and the other deputy Prime Minister will come from MDC-Tsvangirai faction while the two Vice- Presidents will be ZANU-PF members.
posted by MrK @ 6:42 AM
1 Comments:
COMMENT - The sanctions on Zimbabwe include a ban on non-humanitarian aid, prohibition of defence links, and restrictions on financial transactions and visas for members of some government and business leaders.
In fact, sanctions go much farther than tha. Extensive financial sanctions have been in place against Zimbabwe for seven years, directly leading to hyperinflation - see the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001. It are these sanctions that must be lifted if the economy of Zimbabwe is to recover. Obviously, Britain and the US are more interested in the continuing exercise of power over the government of Zimbabwe, no matter who is in power. - MrK
c) MULTILATERAL FINANCING RESTRICTION- Until the President makes the certification described in subsection (d), and except as may be required to meet basic human needs or for good governance, the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against--
(1) any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or
(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.
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