via Zanu PF scoffs at relaxation of EU sanctions – DailyNews Live by Lloyd Mbiba 19 FEBRUARY 2014
President Robert Mugabe’s party, Zanu PF, has dismissed the suspension of European Union (EU) sanctions on service chiefs as a non-event, demanding that the nonagenarian and his wife be removed from the list also.
The EU on Monday dropped from the sanctions list Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander general Constantine Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Perence Shiri, intelligence chief Happyton Bonyongwe, police chief Augustine Chihuri and Didymus Mutasa, the minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
However, the body kept Mugabe and his wife, Grace, on the travel bans.
The EU also kept sanctions on a weapons manufacturer, Zimbabwe Defence Industries. The bloc’s arms embargo will be unchanged too.
The 28-nation EU bloc — which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 in protest against human rights violations — has been gradually easing the illegal sanctions over the last few years.
Rugare Gumbo, Zanu PF spokesperson, dismissed the EU move.
“Well, as long as the president and the first family are still on the sanctions list, there is no removal to talk about,” Gumbo told the Daily News.
“We demand total removal of sanctions because there is no reason why the president has to be on that list. What crime has he done? To us there is no suspension with the president on that list.
“The EU delegation that was here last week said sanctions are hurting the people. They are not targeted. So the EU needs to remove the sanctions and allow us to continue with our empowerment drive.”
COMMENTS
All you have to do is make a request to be put back on the sanctions list.I don’t think you are going to do that, so just shut up and go to Europe and enjoy your stolen money.
And when is the govt going to lift sanctions it imposed on its citizens like John Matinde and others. I also wonder if they are mourning about them
If the so-called illegal sanctions were removed completely that would remove the wool over your thieving faces and you would have no scapegoat FOR YOUR INHERENT, INVOLUNTARY INCOMPETENCE! CHEF THIEVES YOU ALL ARE!
No need for these sanctions , they have never worked at all , indirectly they affected the people of Zim instead of Mugabe and his allies , let them be completely uplifted , that would be a way forward , lets see how this donkey party ZANU PF will perform without sanctions , they had too much excuses lets see now .
NOW THAT SANCTIONS WHICH THEY BLEMED FOR ECONOMIC MALAISE ARE OVER THEY DONT LIKE IT. NO MORE SCAPEGOATS. KIKIKIKIKIKI. FUNNY PEOPLE. WE WILL SEE