Obama administration extends sanctions by another year

By Tichaona Sibanda
2 March 2010

United States President Barack Obama announced on Monday he was extending US sanctions on Robert Mugabe’s regime by another year.

The US President said the reason for extending the targeted sanctions was that ‘Zimbabwe’s deep political crisis remained unresolved.’

“I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions,” Obama said in a statement.

Two weeks ago, the European Union also extended targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe, including an arms embargo, by another year. Western countries imposed restrictive measures on Zimbabwe in 2002 in reaction to allegations of electoral rigging and human rights abuses by Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country since 1980.

EU sanctions ban the sale ‘of arms and of equipment that can be used for internal repression,’ prevent Mugabe and his allies from ‘entering or transiting the EU member states,’ and impose an asset freeze on people and firms suspected of supporting the regime.

This week President Jacob Zuma of South Africa is to seek British support to end the targeted sanctions imposed against Mugabe and members of his inner circle.

The South African government has already asked the international community to remove the measures saying they are hurting its efforts to solve the political problems in Zimbabwe.

President Zuma will be in the UK on a state visit beginning on Wednesday. He will stay with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. Zuma says he believes the EU and US sanctions have made it more difficult to establish a viable coalition government in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Vigil coordinator Rose Benton told us they were puzzled by Zuma’s proposals to call on the international community to remove sanctions against Zimbabwe.

“What surprises most of us is the fact that Zuma has not done a lot to push for the rule of law to be observed in Zimbabwe or for human rights to be respected either,” Benton said.

She said members of the vigil group are going to protest outside the South African embassy in central London on Friday where Zuma is expected to visit.

“We will carry with us placards demanding change in Zimbabwe. Some of the messages that will greet Zuma on Friday will be for him to ‘save Zimbabwe now,’ and call on him to help with the staging of free and fair elections,” Benton added.