Robert Mugabe sues EU over ‘sanctions losses’

via Robert Mugabe sues EU over ‘sanctions losses’ – #Zimbabwe News Daily

THE Zimbabwean government is suing the European Union (EU) for losses to its economy arising from the bloc’s sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and members of his government.

Its lawsuit has now come before the General Court of the European Court of Justice in Brussels, Belgium. Zimbabwe’s government expects it to announce a date for the case to be heard, once it comes up on the court roster, a top government official has said.

The lawsuit by the Zimbabwean government lays bare any pretence of a thaw in relations between Mr Mugabe’s newly re-elected administration and the EU and is widely seen by observers as a final push by Mr Mugabe to end his isolation by the West.

Attorney-general Johannes Tomana, who is spearheading the legal challenge, said in an interview the announcement of a date by the European court would set in motion Zimbabwe’s case.

Although unwilling to discuss the finer details of the lawsuit, it is understood it is the government’s contention that sanctions imposed by the EU since 2001 have cost the country $42bn in lost revenue.

The antisanctions campaign has been a boost to Mr Mugabe’s political standing, and he has used it to gain sympathy from fellow African nations. In the aftermath of the July 31 election won by Mr Mugabe’s Zanu (PF), the Southern African Development Community called on the EU to rethink its position on the sanctions.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai also questioned the sanctions during its four-year stint in the power-sharing government with Mr Mugabe.

Mr Tomana said the lawsuit would serve as a precedent against US-imposed sanctions, when asked whether Zimbabwe would also sue the US government.

EU representative in Zimbabwe Aldo Dell Ariccia said he did not have any additional information on the case, but was aware of the government’s intention.

“The restrictions are against 10 individuals and one company and not against the whole of Zimbabwe. There is no such thing as sanctions against Zimbabwe .”

He said he expected a “rapid resolution” of the case, which he pointed out would not interfere with Zimbabwe-EU relations.

 

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 46
  • comment-avatar
    Rwatata 11 years ago

    These are the last kicks of a dying horse! Litigation is a costly process yet you have both hands extended for sympathizers to drop any leftovers. Think of what would be the consequences of losing such a case. Old guards you’re finished in your capacity to think!

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    Tjingababili 11 years ago

    WASTE OF RESOURCES MADALA!

    • comment-avatar
      Amai Ellen 11 years ago

      Well said – there is not enough money to pay teachers, stock the hospitals, have fresh running water in the cities, no care of the people of Zimbabwe – BUT there is plenty of money to waste on personal agendas.

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    Perhaps he will be asked to hand over the electoral roll denied to the MDC as a condition to see whether he can prove that he leads a government elected by people who are still living

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    Fallenz 11 years ago

    This is a comedy… and a bad move by Mugabe. This will well-publicize the fact that there are no sanctions against Zimbabwe. He’ll lose, and claim a “stacked ” court, but the publicity will make it very difficult for other nations to support his legitimacy and his drive to have his travel restrictions removed. Even some of the willfully-ignorant in ZANUPF will be hard pressed to continue clamoring how the “sanctions” have destroyed the Zim economy.

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    William Doctor 11 years ago

    The sanctions are targeted – against a small group of the zanu elite – who had it coming.

    Maybe the people of Zimbabwe should sue Zanu for income lost over the last decade. The GDP of Zimbabwe for example is significantly lower than that of the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. During the 90’s, the Zimbabwean GDP was higher than the sub-Saharan average. See http://databank.worldbank.org/data/home.aspx

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    This is a joke and a bad one too. We always suspected mugabe is insane and now he has confirmed it for us.How about us zimbabweans suing mugabe and zanupf for the loss of life of our loved ones, the destruction of our economy,the rape of our beloved country, post traumatic stress disorder we are all suffering because of his 33 years of misrule, tyranny, depriving the citizens of their constitutional rights, unlawful imprisonment for those who dared make their opinions heard, unlawful imprisonment for hating mugabe, detroying the health sector, destroying our wonderful education system,disrepecting the Zimbabwean people, stealing elections since 1985, letting the chinese colonise Zimbabwe, oh what the heck wemight as well throw this one in: sue mugabe for being a heartless, doddering old fool.

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    mujibha 11 years ago

    Mbwetete what has happend with your look east policy? If I can remmember well u dd say something like tit for tat why can’t u also give them sunctions. I remmember muchiburitsa shoko rekuti ndinochidi chinyika chinotonhora saka chave kudziya here gushungo? Keep your britain i will keep my zimbabwe, so whats wrong now by keeping your zim? Is it too hot for you to handle it, now u need the big boys from the west to do it for u. Vakuru makuzviona kuti museve haufongorerwe unodzurwa shure. Vakuru kuendesa eu kumatare hakubatsire, zvamunofanirwa kuita deedzerai imwe musarudzo muita kuti nyika dzekunze kusanganisa eu vaiongorore munenge mapedza.

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      BOROCHEAD 11 years ago

      ehe museve i tyght

    • comment-avatar
      soothsayer 11 years ago

      It is true what you are saying Mujibha,i remember vividly VaMugabe vachiti “ndinoenda kunotsvaka chiyi kuchinyika chinotonhora”madzimai eZPF achipururudza.The problem with the west is you can lambast all you can,ivo vanenge vachisunga mascrews vakanyarara.It is a pity our leaders will never learn.

  • comment-avatar
    simon 11 years ago

    Is his an April fools joke cause its a bit early we are in October still. Anyway its a good one to laugh at.

  • comment-avatar
    Fallenz 11 years ago

    The problem with the “Look East” initiative is that those guys out-class most of the people they deal with. Not only in intelligence and initiative, but they can out-connive the best ZANUPF has to offer. There’s an old saying “never bet on another man’s game”… you deal with those guys, and you will lose… and, if you think you’ve won, that just means it isn’t over. Keep playing, and you’ll deed the Zim economy to them.

  • comment-avatar

    Oh my. What an old clown. He is just stalling. Fighting, fighting, everyone in sight so he doesn’t have to deal with the failing economy.

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    Clive Sutherland 11 years ago

    What a joke, but about time that we can now put this fallacy to bed that there is “sanctions” on Zimbabwe. This will hopefully once and for all show the misguided Zanupf supporters that they have been duped and the real reason for Zimbabwes lost revenue is that top zanupf thieves and Zims new coloniser China are responsible.
    The chinese are laughing all the way to the bank and laughing at this ignorant Zanupf government, as far as the chinese are concerned Zimbabwe is a perfect place to invest (plunder)as they always stated that they will not interfere in another countries soveriegn right to brutalise it,s own people as it did in Tianamen square, Zimbabwe will be swallowed up by the chinese bones and all!

  • comment-avatar
    BOROCHEAD 11 years ago

    the EU representative should not fool us Check with PayPal( electronic payment system) Zimbabwe is not on the list of countries that can use the system to purchase of goods from Europe. My car a Merc. failed on Fuel pump & here its costing 700USD but if i were to use PayPal it was going to cost me 96USD to come to my home

    • comment-avatar
      Clive Sutherland 11 years ago

      Borochead, paypal has got nothing to do with the EU Representative
      You are excused for your ignorance

    • comment-avatar

      saka eu ndiyo iri kukutengesera ne700usd here? BOROCHEAD,

  • comment-avatar
    Jenandebvu 11 years ago

    There is nothing like that, He grandstanding. He will not even try it and yet he will to rural fokes about being denied the apportunity at GC. Lol

  • comment-avatar

    Please help me here? Robert the mug violently removes farmers in his country which is against any international law with absolutely no compensation. Now he wants an international court to rule on non existent sanctions.Where is the logic?????????/

  • comment-avatar
    regis 11 years ago

    Joke of the century, seriously something wrong with zanu pf and the octergonerian mugabe, hasi pamanifesto yenyu makati you have answers after ‘protest vote in 2008’, and the people did not believe in that muka rigger maelections muchibatsirwa nemazhingaz ne nikuv, nhasi varipiko? You are the most clueless idiots of your time, shame , shame, shame.

  • comment-avatar
    John Steele 11 years ago

    Well said Clive Sutherland.

  • comment-avatar
    Haruna 11 years ago

    Fools.

  • comment-avatar
    Ininiwo zvangu 11 years ago

    Just impose your own sanctions mhani!

  • comment-avatar
    TICHATONGA 11 years ago

    No sane government can do that. What we need in Zimbabwe is employement and decent salaries and a supporting government that respects its citizens and the rule of law. How on earth can a bunch of thieves approach a respected court of law seeking justice and yet in their own country they trample on other people’s justice? Its high time these morons admit failure and let progressive Zimbabweans run this country.The so called sanctions were on the GPA as a reform item and many others why did these fools choose to rush going into elections without having cleared all the reforms? Its just hogwash that they now want to sue European Union because they have dismally failed to address what they promised the people during their election campaign. With due respect can these guys make a check list of what they have achieved since they came into power.

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    Bruce 11 years ago

    Mugabe’s tricks is to have something to chew, while he is bying time for the EU not to focus on increasing the sanction list. He also want to find excuses for performing so badly in his tenure as president since 1987. He want to world to focus on the case and forget how he stole the election. He noted that MDCs have and others at home have put the election theft behind them, so he want the world to do so too. MDCs he raised issue of retrenching of workers and the Tsvangirai loosing his package of the home and the fraud case over the house construction and that silenced him.

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    zIMBA 11 years ago

    Will the gvt restore invester confindance before things goes out of hand????????????

  • comment-avatar
    Chara 11 years ago

    Kamudhara aka hakana kukwana mava kuda kunotenga zvokugadirira muchato wemwana kuEurope. This Tomana guy is a joke why didn’t advise your handlers that this is futile effort or you just want to visit Europe more often claiming a lot of allowances.

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    Greyhora 11 years ago

    The case will be swiftly concluded by the EU court of Justice. The complainant (Mugabe) will be found in contempt of court for bringing such a flimsy case, attempting to hoodwink the world and insulting the intelligence of the court. This is not run like the Zim kangaroo courts which take 10 years to adjourn cases and panders to the whim of the executive!!!

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    Chigidi 11 years ago

    This is wonderful!! Will he take the witness stand and subject himself to cross examination by well-briefed lawyers (different from a 10 minute interview by Amanpour)? Will Gono and the others who ripped off the Zimbabwean people? Bring it on!!

  • comment-avatar
    Beezy 11 years ago

    Zimbabwe for the Zimbabweans and fellow Africans. Go ahead Mr President and sue these light-coloured dogs calling themselves whites

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    Chitova weGona 11 years ago

    Varume veZanu varikurwadziwa nekurambidzwa kuenda kuEurope! If Tomana has the evidence let him be used bt i can assure you he will be embarassed bcoz what Tomana knows is Zanu law not international law. He is very incompetent even when the case is so clear he works to please Mugabe. Mugabe can go to China and open his case in Chinese courts. Keep looking east. He is failing to deliver his unrealistic election promises and now wants to carry in with his blame game. China masa went to America to beg and came back with nothing. Tongai tione!

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    Democracy wisher 11 years ago

    Well,well Mugabe it can’t be possible to rig election and rig the economy,u are now failing to deliver the promises you promised in your campaign manifesto nw you are laying the blame to the EU.Sanctions are targeted to you and your inner-circle not the Zim nation you have proved urself to be the most dumpest fool,last kicks of a dieing horse.Shame,shame,shame on you Mugabe!!!!

  • comment-avatar
    Diesel from rocks 11 years ago

    Please stop blaming Mugabe for everything its those advisers of his that believe that Diesel comes out of a rock telling him what to do

    • comment-avatar

      Mugabe also believed that diesel comes from a rock. that is why he had set up that ‘special” task force to guard that woamn. she really showed them up for the idiots they are.

  • comment-avatar
    Sibangilizwe Lethube 11 years ago

    This comment is directed to Beezy,its unfortunate that you are exposing your stupidness to everyone.Why would you sue the other countries of not embracing you. If you can not meet their regulation standards they will isolate you.
    In the first place why would you cry to be part of the people whom your party say they are not good,leave them alone and stay with your grabbed land and you can grab the companies if you want.Don’t ever think that the world is ruled like how Zimbabwe is being ruled by zanu pf.

  • comment-avatar
    Mjiba 11 years ago

    KKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKK, Aaah yaah!!!!. KKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. I once said it, kuti ukaona baba veimba vogara vachinetsana nema neibours avo kuti sei musingandibatsiri kuriritira mhuri yangu zivai kuti dzababa ivavo patoita challenge.
    You cant sue someone just because he said don’t visit my home. mmmmmmmmmmm.

  • comment-avatar
    MikeH 11 years ago

    What we all forget, or tend to ignore, is that it’s NOT mugabe “running” the country. He is just a mouthpiece and it’s those in the Joint Operations Command who are pulling his strings, operating their puppet.

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    chatunga 11 years ago

    mbetete is a stupid old clown who thinks he is the only clever person in this world.kutsamwira kuti babs vepanext havadi kundibatdira kuchengeta mhuri yangu.

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    finish gogo 11 years ago

    its high tym we take the fight to the dogs. most graduates are @ home bcz of tsvangtrioins

  • comment-avatar

    This is laughable. So I can sue zanoids for fu..king up my life making me leave with nothing and start all over again at 50. So how much can I claim for you stupid

  • comment-avatar
    Zindoga 11 years ago

    Zanu inotungamirwa nemapenzi tapinda padambudziko vehama

  • comment-avatar
    Rhodey 11 years ago

    This lump of excrescences should be sued by every farmer who has not only
    Lost his property,way of life but also his ability to export food to assist the
    Starving population

  • comment-avatar

    I think our comrade must start to write in Chinese. They wrote in Shona using the English alphabet how hypocritical

  • comment-avatar
    Clive Sutherland 10 years ago

    We should all sue Zanupf, Maybe a Zimbabwean wise in how the law works would step up to the plate and represent all those Zimbabweans who over the years have lost everything, to start with life time of pension contributions, life time savings accounts, retrenchments,loss of all basic services such as electricity, clean running water,loss of limb and life etc.etc basically everything that has gone wrong for the average Zimbabwean can be attributed to Zanupf.
    How about it? Is there anyone out there who is willing to represent us in a class suit against Zanupf, I am sure you will get millions of signatures, in fact you will get more signatures than the amount of people that voted for Zanupf if you were able to gain access to all areas of Zimbabwe.

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    Mafuta 10 years ago

    He wants to cash in relations with the west for a mere 46b?