via EU slammed for ‘forsaking’ democratic hopes of Zimbabweans | SW Radio Africa by Alex Bell on Friday, February 28, 2014
The European Union (EU) has this week been further criticised for its decision to ease targeted restrictions against key members of the Robert Mugabe regime, with the bloc being slammed for ‘forsaking’ Zimbabweans.
The EU earlier this month suspended its targeted measures against eight ZANU PF officials, but kept the restrictions on Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace. Among those targeted were army generals and senior intelligence officers, including the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Zimbabwe’s Intelligence Chief and Chief of Police.
The European bloc had previously said the restrictions would not be removed until there was real democratic change as a result of a free and fair election in Zimbabwe. But its latest move has come in the absence of this and the EU has since faced criticism for condoning not only the disputed elections last July, but also the culture of impunity, corruption and other issues that highlight ZANU PF’s brand of political control.
Zimbabwean economist and commentator Vince Musewe said Friday that it was for this reason that he wrote a letter of protest to the EU this week.
“The reasons why the sanctions were put into place was because there was no democracy, and the whole idea of the measures was to reform the system in Zimbabwe and move towards democracy. That hasn’t happened and now we see the EU coming to ease the sanctions, and for me there is no logic behind this,” Musewe told SW Radio Africa.
Musewe wrote in his letter to the EU: “Your recent actions to effectively support and inadvertently strengthen those whom have caused much pain to millions of us and have forsaken the ideals of the liberation struggle. I pray that Zimbabwe will rise notwithstanding.”
He said Friday that the EU’s decision was motivated by the commercial and economic interests that some EU members have in Zimbabwe, such as Belgium. Belgium, the diamond capital of Europe, spearheaded the initiative to remove restrictions against ZANU PF’s mining parastatal, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) last year. That has directly resulted in Zimbabwe’s controversial diamonds being sold in Belgium’s diamond hub, Antwerp. Musewe said these “vested interests” mean the targeted measures have been removed for the wrong reasons.
“This will just allow army people and those others to travel to Europe. It won’t do the country any good. It is more about them (the EU) than about us,” Musewe said.
He said that ZANU PF’s “emotional chorus” that the measures ‘hurt’ Zimbabwe have been part of the party’s propaganda campaign, with the party using the so-called ‘sanctions’ as the scapegoat for all the country’s problems.
“ZANU PF is scared to accept the reality that they have failed, so they need to find scapegoats for everything. Even if you remove them (the targeted sanctions), they will find more excuses,” Musewe said.
He continued that the EU, rather than removing the restrictions, should have stood by its own commitments to democracy and maintained the measures until there was real change in Zimbabwe. He then called on the European bloc, along with other international bodies and governments, to support democratic forces in the country, until such change is achieved.
“The international community needs to be steadfast and needs to support the democratic movement in Zimbabwe. They need to do so until we see change,” Musewe said.
Meanwhile an EU delegation in Zimbabwe earlier this month said the bloc’s move was taken as a step towards the ‘normalisation’ of relations with Zimbabwe. They insisted the targeted measures had not been removed, but had been suspended, meaning they could be re-imposed at any time.
COMMENTS
The bible says God created man to be dominion over all things but not over another man,so these organisations are all Devil’s works. Only Jehovah ‘s kingdom which is not far will restore peace,order, happiness and eternal life. Forget about Zpf,Eu,Au,Sadc and all these Devil’s organisations. This world is under the rule of Satan and he is now like a hungry lion wanting to devour everybody because he knows that the end is near, the prophecy say so.
Like what Mugabe is doing to his own pple. A devil in the making
Desperate headline. EU SLAMMED FOR……
Who is Vincent Musewe in Zimbabwe-EU relations? What influence can this headless chicken have on the situation in Zimbabwe? Don’t waste space on paper with useless and desperate stories which will not yield anything.
We saw his headless letter to the EU. I wonder if ever the EU would spare a moment of their time to look at that letter from a lone voice in the wilderness. Letter addressed to the EU, who in the EU? It’s like addressing a letter to Bulawayo, or to Mutare, or to NATO. I think it was meant only for publication in the media only.
There needs to be serious education on what democracy means.
It doesn’t mean for example as happened in Zimbabwe the legal mafia fearful of imprisonment for corruption and murder organized an attempt at a new constitution – the first draft constitution ewhere it was explained after it was adopted.
By spokesman John Deary”The reason dfot this new constituition attempt was to protect Gubbay AND MacNally they are our friends, negotiations went up and down and we had to offer to fast track the land reform in exchange for no Presidentioal control on the Judiciary and we succeeded unfortunately Mugabe is in for another term in terms of the draft. It is anticipated that the white commercial farmers will fund another [politicalm party and the trouble making Trade Union are a good proposition”
In spite of a no vote organized mainly by commercial farmers it was decided to ignore this during the inclusive government and with propaganda try again. CFU were funded along with an in house lawyers to removed the clause in the constitution ,making UK liable to pay compensation from a compensation fund established by Robin Cook in the Commons. Success again, local journalists and Zimbabweans being so gullible and not very bright. No claim has been made from the brit compensation fund the deal foe funding Jag and CFU. As a smoke screen to keep iduiots quiet courts in countries with no jurisdiction were used for propaganda and to make the local press look intelligent. Think about it the GPA agreement signed by all stated Britain was responsible for compensaion how many in the local legal mafia and opposition complained of breach when it was removed. The opposition were funded too it would have meant no money.
It was far cheaper to bribe that pay out 10 billion in compensation – easy where you are dealing with not very bright politicians and journalists-What a success story. The legal mafia got there immunity from crime too!!! The real winners in the last election were thelegal mafia and they don’t require a vote by law, crime doesn’t need a vote.
Still today idiots chant we need the new constitution, their brain still in the clouds, it wasn’t done for the citizens it was done to protect the west. It will take the next 20 years for locals to realize they were conned.
look and consider recent statements like im will never forgive Tsvangerai for this new constitution and start to think, if possible.
Good luck with your illegal constitution, you have received what you deserve!
Ask yourself, where in the world do you have a referendum where people vote NO to a constitution and then a few politicians translate as lets have another go.
What a western success story! Journalists are paid up to 2500 from the propaganda fund far more important than protecting Zimbabwe and their children.
Like what Mugabe is doing to his own pple. A devil in the making
You are just dishing a lot of rubbish to justfy your suppkert if Robert. Compensation or no compensatikn that does not wardant Mugabe to treat otber fellow Zimbabweans like this. Why did he not agree manufacture something good for sll of us. During the GNU tenure when the current constitution was being drafted Zanu pf rejected so many clauses which were good for the country. Dont lie about Britain and the west. You want us to believe what you say simply becsuse thst is what you want. Tinyarevo.
OR what I say is true and you don’t know anything so you waste space
Forget about such words as democracy, freedom, human rights etc. The words to follow are INTERESTS,VALUES BENEFITS, PROFIT,POWER then food, drink and above all sex and just fun. The Europeans do not care nor do they bother about US the Zimbabwean people as a people.They looked aside as our women were brutally murdered by their fellow Zimbabweans who were armed. Infact they funded that process and are falsely blaming the North Koreans. They supported Tswangirai’s party but really it is the white Rhodesian racists who had lost farms that they were supporting. Now they have seen that the Tswangirai route is longer. They better just go back to Zanupf and make some few adjustments here and there. They will still live as they want. That is why you read of Heath Streak working with Zanupf in his cricket, some whites casting the West for sanctions and the West lifting the “sanctions”while nothing really has.
What exactly are you trying to say?
People with power are just using the word democracy and human rights while it is their interests that they are after. Nothing has changed in Zimbabwe except that Zanupf “won” the election. The Europeans have now decided just to work with Zanupf claiming that there is this and that change while really people see none. It is their interest that drive them to impose or lift sanctions and certainly not your or my democracy or human rights as they claim.
Believe or not you, EUs, Mugabe is the only democracy over the world while we have the evidence, you should be jealous from Mugabe!!