Zanu PF scoffs at relaxation of EU sanctions

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.”