EU govt renew sanctions against Zimbabwe

European Union governments renewed sanctions against Zimbabwe for another year today, including a travel ban against president Robert Mugabe.

Sanctions were imposed by the EU to protest against the African nation’s poor human rights record.

The extension was unanimously approved by a meeting of EU competition ministers, officials said.

Sanctions include a ban on about 100 Zimbabwe government officials and ministers from travelling to the 27-nation bloc, officials said.

The blacklist names those allegedly involved in human rights violations.

Sanctions were first imposed in 2002 to protest against human rights violations and the dictatorial rule of Mr Mugabe. The punitive measures also include a ban on arms sales and the freezing of Zimbabwean assets in European banks.

A separate decision also suspends most development aid projects under special EU-Africa aid and trade deals.

Zimbabwe declined a French invitation to attend an African leaders’ summit in France last week because it was asked to send a lower official rather than Mr Mugabe to the gathering.

Paris, however, was criticised by its EU counterparts in 2003 for inviting Mr Mugabe to a similar summit then.

The Zimbabwean government insists EU countries are bowing to pressure from Britain in imposing the sanctions.

Kathryn Llewellyn, head of campaigns for London-based Action for Southern Africa, said: “ACTSA are thrilled with today’s news that the EU has taken the only moral decision to renew the EU sanctions against Mugabe.

“The renewal of these sanctions show the people of Zimbabwe that we support them fully in their plight to free their country. The battle is however still on, our focus must now move to the EU-Africa Summit, which being held in Lisbon at the end of this year.

“We must show the Mugabe regime that Europe will not engage with a government that violates workers and human rights", she said.