Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Mugabe gives Obama time to lift sanctions

Mugabe gives Obama time to lift sanctions
Reuters/TZG reporters
Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:25:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe said on Wednesday he was giving the U.S. Obama administration time to lift sanctions its predecessor imposed on his country, saying he did not expect immediate action.

In an interview with Reuters, the president said he would "never" replace two key officials that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) want replaced: Attorney General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank Governor Dr. Gideon Gono.

The Bush administration, which left power in January this year, slapped illegal sanctions in 2003 on Zimbabwe through the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera). The European Union also imposed sanctions that were not approved by the United Nations.

President Mugabe is currently visiting New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly. He vowed to tell the world body that the sanctions were unjustified and should be lifted.

But he added: "We are giving time to the administration of (Barack) Obama to make their decision. They inherited sanctions, they found them on his desk and we don't expect him to get rid of them that quickly."

Obama administration officials have given no indication they are considering lifting sanctions.

President Mugabe blames the illegal sanctions for the economic woes of Zimbabwe, which needs billions of dollars for recovery.

The president strongly defended his decision to retain Governor Gono and Attorney General Tomana, despite MDC claims that the Global Political Agreement says that they would go.

The two appointments are not mentioned in the GPA and were made six months prior to the formation of the inclusive Government.

"I appointed (Gono) long before the (power-sharing) agreement had come into being ... and the same with the attorney-general. And there's nothing wrong that they have done," President Mugabe said.

"I don't see any reason why they should be discharged and new people found to replace them. And so I have laid down my foot and said no, they will never be. You see, I won't let them go."

President Mugabe also defended his refusal to swear in Roy Bennett, MDC-T treasurer-general, as deputy agriculture minister, saying he faces criminal charges. If Bennett, who is due to stand trial next month on terrorism charges, was acquitted, there would be "no objection" to his appointment, he said.

Despite the disputes with the MDC-T, President Mugabe said he had a working relationship with Tsvangirai.

"We are very good partners in the inclusive Government and we understand each other," he said. "Not that we agree every time, but there is more room for agreement just now than disagreement and we trust each other... He tells me the truth, I tell him the truth."

President Mugabe declined to say whether he would run again in the next general election, expected in 2011.

"That's what I won't say -- if I am going to run or I'm not going to run," he said. "It would be bad tactics to say so, political tactics. I don't want also to divide my (Zanu PF) party at the moment."

Reuters/TZG

Labels: MUGABE, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 5:31 AM