(TALKZIMBABWE) Australia reconsidering sanctions against Zimbabwe

Australia reconsidering sanctions against Zimbabwe
Ralph Mutema
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:26:00 +0000

AUSTRALIA will consider easing the illegal sanctions imposed against the Zimbabwe after a European delegation indicated at the weekend that significant progress had been made in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement.

That country's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Tuesday the country will consider "lifting a ban on high level contacts with Zimbabwe".

Although the country says there are targetted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and other Zanu PF officials, there are a number of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwean companies that limit trading with Australia and the West.

Smith, in a statement to parliament, said Australia would also contribute an extra "US$6.9 million in aid to Zimbabwe to fund emergency food supplies, agriculture projects and help reinvigorate education."

Smith, echoing a statement made by the Movement for Democratic Change party over the weekend, said more needed to be done to fully implement the power sharing agreement signed a year ago between President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, now Prime Minister.

MDC-T party has called for the ousting of Attorney General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, whose appointments were beyond the scope of the Global Political Agreement and was done six months before the signing of the agreement.

"Much more significant progress will be required before the Australian Government undertakes any broader review of Australia's sanctions with respect to Zimbabwe," he said, also echoing a weekend statement by EU officials who visited Zimbabwe over the weekend.

A European Union delegation visited Zimbabwe and said relations were entering a new phase. The EU said "full cooperation hinged on the implementation of the power sharing deal".

President Mugabe says everything agreed in the GPA has been implemented except the swearing in of Deputy Agricultural Minister designate Roy Bennet, who faces charges of treason. He wants him cleared of the charges before he is sworn in.

Smith said there were growing signs of hope and optimism in Zimbabwe, with major improvements to the country's economy and health system.

Australia in 2002 banned direct ministerial contact with government ministers in Zimbabwe, and in 2004 imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe. Australia also tightened scrutiny of student visas for the children of senior Zimbabwean government officials.

It was now time for Canberra to consider working with some Zimbabwean government ministries and to look at direct ministerial engagement with some government members, Smith said.

"Australia will consider opportunities for ministerial engagement on a selective case-by-case basis with those ministers of the Zimbabwean government who we judge to be making a real and genuine contribution to Zimbabwe's social and economic recovery," he said.