BRUSSELS, Belgium
The European Union (EU) has extended by a year its arms embargo against Zimbabwe while underplaying the impact of its sanctions against the southern African country.
Zimbabwe has been under
sanctions from the EU and the United States for the past two decades and this
has impacted negatively on its economy that has been in decline for years.
The EU has eased its travel
bans and assets freezes against government officials and security chiefs, but
maintains an arms embargo and asset freeze against the Zimbabwe Defence
Industries.
In its latest review of the
embargo, Brussels said it decided to keep the arms embargo in place because of
concerns that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is not keeping its
reform promises.
“The EU will continue to
closely follow developments, with a particular attention to the human rights
situation and recalls its readiness to adapt the whole range of its policies
accordingly,” the EU said in its review.
The remaining restrictive
measures in place do not affect the people of Zimbabwe, its economy, foreign
direct investments, or trade.
“Zimbabwe continues to benefit
from duty free and quota free access of its exports to the EU, while
negotiations are ongoing to deepen the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)
Economic Partnership Agreement.
“There is significant
potential in terms of investments and job opportunities, provided that the
government promotes political and economic reforms, facilitate a conducive and
more predictable business environment, tackle corruption and foster respect for
human rights and the rule of law.”
Zimbabwe has been lobbying for
the lifting of the Western sanctions, arguing that they are unjustified and a
strain to its struggling economy.
African leaders have also
joined the lobby and have in the recent years used global platforms to push for
the removal of the embargo with no success.
The US, United Kingdom and the
EU insist that Zimbabwe must show a commitment to political and economic
reforms for the sanctions to be lifted.
Disputed election
Zimbabwe was first hit with
sanctions after a disputed 2002 presidential election where then leader Robert
Mugabe was accused of electoral fraud and human rights violations.
The EU said it was concerned
about President Mnangagwa’s moves to introduce legislation that will severely
limit the civic and democratic space.
“Other developments are of
concern from a democratic and civic space perspective,” the Council of the EU
added.
“These include the Data
Protection Act and, if enacted, bills such as the Private Voluntary
Organisations Amendment Bill and the envisaged “patriotic provisions” in the
Criminal Law Amendment Bill.
“The EU also maintains its
concerns that the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry have
not been followed substantially and the perpetrators of violations which
occurred in August 2018 and January 2019 are to date still enjoying impunity
from prosecution.
“It is important that
international human rights obligations are adhered to and the constitutional
rights of the people of Zimbabwe respected.”
Zimbabwe will hold
parliamentary and presidential elections later this year and Western countries,
including members of the EU, say it is crucial for the country to organise free
and fair elections if its international isolation is to end.
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