Iceland volcano ash forces cancellation of EU-Zimbabwe talks

By Tichaona Sibanda
22 April 2010

Fresh talks on mending relations between the inclusive government and the European Union have been postponed to a later date, owing to the closure of air space in most European countries.

The six-day airspace shutdown forced the Zimbabwe delegation, which was due in Brussels on Tuesday, to seek alternatives dates. The objective of the trip was to ‘re-engage’ the EU on various issues, including the targeted sanctions against Robert Mugabe and over 200 allies from ZANU PF.

Since 2002 the EU have imposed an assets freeze, travel ban and arms-sale ban on the former ruling party. ZANU PF has been on a constant push for these targeted sanctions to be lifted, but the EU has made it clear that this was not going to happen while serious doubts remain about human rights abuses and the stalling of political reform.

The Zimbabwe head of delegation, Elton Mangoma, the Economic Planning Minister from the MDC-T, said they were working on finding new dates to travel to Brussels. Mangoma was due to attend the talks with Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Justice from ZANU PF, and Regional Integration Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga from Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara's smaller MDC formation.

Earlier this year an EU team, led by Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht, held separate talks with Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare, the first official dialogue with the Zimbabwe government in 7 years. Although the EU team praised the meeting they indicated it was not appropriate yet for sanctions to end and complained about the slow pace of reforms.