Crisis Coalition welcomes EU decision to maintain sanctions on Mugabe

By Staff Reporter

HARARE – The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has welcomed the European Union’s decision to maintain restrictive measures and a travel ban on president Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, the only two individuals who now remain on the sanctions list imposed two decades ago.

“We continue to insist that the European Union (EU) gives high priority to the Rule of Law, Human Rights and Governance issues in Zimbabwe.

“This should be done with the involvement of civil society establishments in both Zimbabwe and Europe,” reads the statement.

The 28-nation EU, which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 in protest at human rights abuses and violations of democracy under Mugabe, has gradually eased sanctions over the last few years to encourage political reform.

The EU met on February 19 2015 to review the restrictive measures on Zimbabwe.

“THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in particular Article 29 thereof, Whereas: (1) On 15 February 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/101/CFSP (1).

“(2) The Council has carried out a review of Decision 2011/101/CFSP, taking into account political developments in Zimbabwe. (3) The restrictive measures should be renewed until 20 February 2016,” reads the EU statement.

“The application of the travel ban and asset freeze should be maintained for two persons and one entity set out in I to Decision 2011/101/CFSP.

“The suspension of the travel ban and asset freeze for persons and entities as listed in Annex II to that Decision should also be renewed. ”

The EU also removed the names of the five deceased persons.

Mugabe, who turned 91 on the 21st of February, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. He has frequently clashed with the West over his policies and accused the United States and Britain of trying to control his nation and its resources.

But rights activists accuse his regime of relying on violence, rape, abductions, torture and murder to remain in power over the years. They also accuse Mugabe of effectively privatising the army, police, state security agencies and state media to prop himself up.