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(TALKZIMBABWE) EU set to remove sanctions on individual basis

EU set to remove sanctions on individual basis
By: Samantha Chidzero
Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:00 am

THE European Union has suggested that individuals and companies under EU travel and financial sanctions should approach Brussels on an individual basis and present cases as to why their names should be taken off the list.

The United States, Australia, Canada and EU member countries imposed illegal sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and about 200 members of Zanu-PF, among a raft of other undeclared ruinous sanctions.

Energy Minister Mr Elton Mangoma of the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai led the recent Zimbabwean government delegation to Brussels.

Mr Mangoma told an MDC publication that the EU said listed individuals and companies could apply for the release of assets to meet basic needs.

President Mugabe and the Zanu-PF party say that the country's economic decline over the past decade was caused by Western sanctions, which were in response to land reforms instituted after Britain reneged on its promise to fund the exercise.

Said Mangoma: "They can request the council with supporting documentation justifying why the (EU) Council decision to put them on the list should be reconsidered and they can also challenge the Council decision to include them on the list before the General Court of the European Union."

Zanu-PF has taken the position that all illegal Western sanctions must be lifted before it will implement the Global Political Agreement in full. It has also demanded that pirate radio broadcasts into the country from abroad must cease.

This includes broadcasts by the likes of VOA, SW Radio Africa, among others.

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo dismissed the EU's proposal as "not serious" adding that when the sanctions were imposed the process was done in a wholesale manner, so they should not talk to individuals.

"All forms of sanctions must be removed. How about the undeclared sanctions they have imposed on the country that do not explicitly target individuals or entities? Who ensures that those sanctions are removed?

"Are they trying to divide and rule people in Zanu-PF?" he asked.

Labels: ELTON MANGOMA, EU, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 11:21 PM