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(NEWZIMBABWE) US Senate votes to keep sanctions

US Senate votes to keep sanctions
by Lebo Nkatazo
11/06/2009 00:00:00

THE United States Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution to maintain sanctions on Zimbabwe, citing Zanu PF’s reluctance to honour terms of a power sharing agreement with the two MDC factions as well as the arrest of media workers.

The resolution came just two days before Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai meets US President Barack Obama, seeking improved relations between the two countries and the removal of sanctions first imposed in 2001.

In resolving to maintain the sanctions, the US Senate however said “humanitarian aid” to the country should continue. The aid is channelled through US charities, and usually takes the form of food hand-outs to the poor.

The Senate said President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party continued to obstruct the implementation of the pact, known as the Global Political Agreement, and was dragging its feet over MDC demands for the reversal of the appointment of a Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney General without consultations.

The Senate also expressed concern over arrests of human rights activists and journalists.

A resolution passed by the Senate said: “Now therefore, be it resolved … maintain the existing ban on the transfer of defence items and services and the suspension of most non-humanitarian government to government assistance until there is demonstrable progress towards restoring the rule of law, civilian control over security forces and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe. ”

It also pledged to “support the continuation and updating of financial sanctions and travel bans targeted against those individuals responsible for the deliberate breakdown of the rule of law, politically-motivated violence, and other ongoing illegal activities in Zimbabwe. ”

It noted that “reform-minded” individuals within the unity government were being limited by severe lack of personnel and material resources.

The development will be a major blow to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who is asking western leaders to strengthen his hand by restoring financial support critical for sparking an economic recovery after a decade-long economic and political crisis.

Tsvangirai has already been snubbed by the Netherlands which also demanded reforms before any aid financial aid could be considered.

The Prime Minister meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday, worried by an emerging pattern where Western leaders are still unconvinced Zimbabwe can get out of the woods with President Mugabe still at the helm.

Tsvangirai arrives in Britain later next week for meetings with government officials and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He is expected to address a public meeting in London on Saturday, June 20.

Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister recently warned there would be nothing to recover if the West withheld financial support until Mugabe was gone.

“The West is being unscientific and ahistorical,” Tendai Biti stormed. “If this experiment (inclusive government) fails, we have no cheaper alternative, no cheaper option.

"If the West doesn't come in, the price of undoing the mess will be much higher, like Liberia, Sierra Leone. Look at the cost to Somalia . . . how will anyone ever reconstruct Somalia?"

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 3:28 AM