11 November 2002
MDC Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister calls on EU to tighten sanctions
The Movement for Democratic Change, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Moses Mzila Ndlovu today challenged the European Union to either start working at tightening travel bans against the Zanu PF leadership on its sanctions list or risk the whole exercise being viewed as a sham.
Mzila was commenting at the issuing once again by the Belgian Government, of a visa to another banned Zanu PF Minister Samuel Mumbengegwi who is in Brussels for an ACP Ministerial meeting.
"Sanctions will work when the EU tightens them to close all loopholes the Zanu PF regime is using to gallivant all over the world, seeking legitimacy at international platforms while continuing with their thuggish behavior at home," said Mzila.
To make matters worse another of the Zanu PF terror campaign leaders, Chris Pasipamire was issued a visa to go to the United Kingdom to study, at a time when thousands of Zimbabweans seeking refuge from Mugabe's terror and brutal rule are being denied entry into the country. Mzila said this was an unfortunate development and called on the conscience of the British Government to do the right thing and send Pasipamire back to Zimbabwe immediately, to face the consequences of his party's policies. Zimbabwe today is facing the worst economic and political crisis in its history. Pasipamire is one of the leaders of gangsters that went around the country looting peoples property, raping women and seizing farms and companies. "How can such a man who promoted lawlessness qualify for a visa into the UK? Even the security of our supporters there is now under threat."
"The EU member states stand to lose credibility if they allow this to continue going on. The sanctions were put in place as an incentive for good behavior, but Zanu PF sees all these opportunities and uses them to spite the EU and the rest of the international community, demanding better rule in Zimbabwe. Even food aid donated by the EU is being abused by Zanu PF for political gain while opposition supporters are forced to starve.The situation in Zimbabwe is at its worst and unless there is a concerted effort by all international players to put sufficient pressure on Mugabe and his cronies to allow for a democratic transition then it will continue to get worse," said Mzila.
All signs of civil unrest are very clear as Zimbabweans across the across the country start mobilising themselves for civil action to force Mugabe to agree to set demands among which are a return to the rule of law, respect for human rights and the setting up of a transitional authority that will supervise the holding of a free and fair elections to usher in a legitimate government.
The EU is set to review the current sanctions regime in February 2003, they will decide depending on the progress made by the Zimbabwean authorities towards more democratic behavior to drop them or if not then to tighten the sanctions through expansion and closing of all loopholes. ends
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