BRUSSELS, Belgium
The European Union (EU) has
renewed its two-decades-old sanctions against Zimbabwe, citing continued human
rights violations and closure of the democratic space.Zimbabwe's police brutality
Zimbabwe has been under EU
targeted sanctions since 2002 after the late Robert Mugabe won a controversial
presidential election.
After Mr Mugabe was toppled in
a military coup in 2017, his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa
pushed for normalisation of ties with the bloc, but this is yet to
bear fruit.
The EU on Monday said the
situation in Zimbabwe has not changed under President Mnangagwa, hence the move
to extend the embargo.
“The situation in terms of
respect for human rights has not improved in Zimbabwe,” the bloc said.
“Intimidation of political
opposition and other government critics has continued to restrict the
democratic and civic space, which is under threat of shrinking further through
the Data Protection Act and ongoing legislative processes such as the Private
Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill and the envisaged so-called Patriotic
Act. The EU is concerned about these developments.”
President Mnangagwa's government has rolled out
several laws targeted at its critics, including the civil society and the
media.
The 80-year-old ruler is accused of trying to turn
Zimbabwe into a one-party state by dismantling the opposition.
He is also accused of failing to rein in human
rights perpetrators comprising largely of security forces.
“Perpetrators of human rights violations should be
swiftly brought to justice to end impunity,” the EU said.
“It is important that international human rights
obligations are adhered to and the constitutional rights of the people of
Zimbabwe respected.
“In this light, the EU recalls the purpose of its
restrictive measures, which is to encourage a demonstrable, genuine and
long-term commitment by the Zimbabwean authorities to respect and uphold human
rights and the rule of law.”
The sanctions include an arms embargo and asset
freeze against the Zimbabwe Defence Industries, a state-owned arms
manufacturer.
Zimbabwe attributes its long running economic
crisis to the sanctions by Western countries, but the EU said the measures “are
targeted and very limited.”
“They do not affect the people of Zimbabwe, its
economy, foreign direct investments or trade,” it added.
“Zimbabwe continues to benefit from duty free and
quota access of its exports to the EU, while negotiations are ongoing to deepen
the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement.”
Meanwhile, the EU decided to lift suspended travel
bans and asset freezes against Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga,
army chief Phillip Valerio Sibanda and former first lady Grace Mugabe.
Besides the EU, the United States and the United
Kingdom have maintained targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe.
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