EU lifts targeted sanctions on ZMDC

HARARE - The European Union (EU) has lifted its asset freeze on the state-owned Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), the last remaining entity on its targeted sanctions list.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also a former Army General, has struck a deal in the Middle East, which will see Zimbabwe purchasing weapons from Iran in order to bypass sanctions imposed by western countries. The Iranian newspaper, Iran Observer, confirmed the development on Tuesday afternoon.

Eddie Cross: "The US once again leads the world in the application of sanctions in their efforts to change the world into their image. Today 62 countries - that is 32 percent of all the countries in the world operate under sanctions imposed by the USA. In this group - Zimbabwe stands out as the only country under a US sponsored sanctions regime imposed by an Act of Congress. The rest are all administrative imposed by Presidential dictate."

LONDON - The United Kingdom's (UK) House of Lords last week debated revising sanctions on Zimbabwe in light of the United States (US) tightening its own measures.

Pride Mkono: "In April 2024, the Al Jazeera news network aired a docuseries titled "Gold Mafia, which implicated President Mnangagwa at the apex of numerous corruption scandals. Additionally, a cadre of new tycoons, exemplified by figures like Kuda Tagwirei, has amassed substantial wealth through dubious government contracts, perpetuating grand corruption and depriving millions of essential social services. These developments underscored the urgent need for a shift in policy by Washington."