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(TALKZIMBABWE) US reviews Zimbabwe sanctions

US reviews Zimbabwe sanctions
By: Samantha Chidzero
Posted: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 6:49 pm

THE United States is reviewing the decade old so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (or sanctions document), the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt. A bipartisan bill that seeks to amend the ZDERA of 2001, which introduced wide ranging illegal sanctions on the country, was introduced in the US Senate on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Senator Feingold along with Republican Senator Johny Isakson and fellow Democrat Senator John Kerry, the proposed Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act will seek to direct new US policy towards Zimbabwe.

The Bill seeks among other things to a create a statement of US policy towards Zimbabwe, "provide for technical assistance to the inclusive Government, support land reforms and take action to stop illegal diamond deals".

A communique issued by the US Congress says the Kerry, Isakson and Feingold bill seeks to "is designed to help those parts of the transitional government and parliament that demonstrate a firm commitment to democratic reform, while renewing and ramping up pressure on hardliners and the activities that sustain their abuses."

The US and its European Union counterparts have maintained sanctions on Zimbabwe despite the formation of the inclusive Government between President Robert Mugabe and his former arch rival, MDC-T leader and now Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

“The bill states that the US should continue to provide humanitarian assistance, promote trade between US companies and Zimbabwe push for the implementation of the power sharing agreement,” said a summary of the debate on the bill.

ZDERA is being amended to "reward the transitional government and allows for debt relief and multilateral financing".

The senators also want US president Barack Obama to be able to push for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Kimberley Process.

Labels: BLOOD DIAMONDS, DIAMONDS, KIMBERLEY PROCESS, RUSS FEINGOLD, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 9:23 PM