Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) US says not lifting sanctions against Zim

US says not lifting sanctions against Zim
Ralph Mutema
Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:25:00 +0000

THE United States of America says it is still early to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe and reserve the right to lift those sanctions when they want to do so and when they see progress.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, told the Center for American Progress that the U.S. heeds the call by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe but, "We differ on when and how to lift sanctions."

He added: "We reserve the right to lift those sanctions when we want to do so and when we see progress."

South African Broadcasting Corporation's Manalese Tubas asked Ambassador Carson, "You emphasized the issue of mutual respect between the (U.S.) administration and Africans and the fact that you say that Africans must take the lead in resolving their own problems...

The resolution of Sadc in Kinshasa a week ago, where they said that sanctions must be lifted in Zimbabwe as a matter of – (inaudible) – so that the people of Zimbabwe should start to rebuild their country. And it does seem to me that you are not listening to that and are not prepared to respect that resolution. Why?"

The ambassador said the U.S. was concerned that lifting the sanctions would bring economic advantages that would allow the government of President Mugabe to "secure their further control on government".

"And we think it is important not to let the economic advantages that Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti bring to the case to be exploited and used by Robert Mugabe and others to secure their further control on government," said Ambassador Carson.

"We still think insufficient progress has been made, and to remove that pressure may in effect allow for economic gains, but not in effect change the dynamics of the political strangulation that Zanu exercises on political control and power."

Ambassador Carson in his statement referred to "sanctions" as opposed to "restrictive measures", a term favoured by the MDC-T party. He said that "the sanctions that the United States has in place are primarily directed at individuals, some – approximately 220 of them, of the most senior officials in the government, and also at entities that they possess or may own."

Carson said that the U.S. has "an enormous amount of respect for Sadc and what Sadc stands for" and will continue dialogue with the regional grouping.

Earlier this month, the heads of state of the Sadc called for the removal of all international sanctions on Zimbabwe, saying that pogress has been made since the formation of the inclusive Government last February.

The body ignored a call from Zimababwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for a special Sadc summit to discuss terms before lifting the sanctions.

MDC-T leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai accuses President Mugabe of not reversing the appointments of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana, although the appointments are not mentioned in the power-sharing agreement and were made six months before the signing of that agreement.

Regional leaders argue that significant progress has been made by the inclusive Government to warrant the lifting of sanctions.

"Considering the positive evolution of the situation, considering the progress that has been made, we believe it is now high time that the santions are lifted," said current Sadc chairman, Congolese President Joseph Kabila.

President Mugabe's press secretary George Charamba said that "by continuing to inflict it [Zimbabwe] with those sanctions that are unjustified and illegal anyway, you are hurting Sadc. Please, do us a favour, remove them."

Labels: JOHNNIE CARSON, JOSEPH KABILA, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 4:07 PM