(NEWZIMBABWE) PM requests easing of sanctions
PM requests easing of sanctionsby
30/01/2010 00:00:00
EUROPEAN diplomats accredited to Harare say Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has requested the removal of eight companies from the list of state-owned firms and other quasi-government institutions that were slapped with sanctions by the European Union.
The Zimbabwean premier has come under increasing pressure over the issue after British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK would only consider lifting the sanctions on the advice of the MDC.
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party subsequently announced in midweek that no further concessions would be made to the two MDC formations in the ongoing talks over “out-standing” GPA issues leaving the dialogue on the brink of collapse.
However the deputy head of the Germany Embassy in Harare, Matthias Schumaker said Tsvangirai had asked that the eight companies, which have not been named, be removed from the sanctions list.
The EU is also said to be considering removing from the sanctions list, Dumiso Dabengwa, a former senior member of Zanu PF who ditched the party during the 2008 elections and now leads the revived PF Zapu.
Up to 40 state-related enterprises were slapped with sanctions by the European Union along with over 200 individuals connected to President Mugabe and Zanu PF at the height of the dispute between Zimbabwe and western countries in the last decade.
Western countries say the sanctions were aimed at encouraging free and fair elections in the country, observance of the rule of law and respect for human rights while Zanu PF insists the measures were an act of retribution over its land reforms.
The sanctions remain in place even though the country’s feuding politicians have since formed a coalition government to end years of bickering and bring hope the suffering population, further infuriating Zanu PF.
Meanwhile, eight British Members of Parliament are expected to visit Zimbabwe to review the effectiveness of British aid to the country.
Dave Fish, the head of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) in Zimbabwe said in a statement the visiting legislators are members of the UK Parliament’s International Development Committee.
“The UK government is committed to helping the poorest and most vulnerable people in Zimbabwe. Progress on halting the spread of HIV/Aids, caring for orphans; widows and the disabled as well as access to water supply and agriculture inputs are all vital for Zimbabwe’s recovery.
“The team will have the opportunity to assess how well DFID works with other donors, multilateral agencies, non governmental organizations and the inclusive government,” the statement said adding that DFID’s aid programme in Zimbabwe is worth US$ 100 million this financial year.
Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
posted by MrK @ 7:34 AM
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