EU foreign ministers widened sanctions against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, adding 37 more people to a list of individuals under a visa ban and asset freeze, officials confirmed.
THE EU's French presidency and an EU official said that 37 individuals and four "entities" -- probably major companies -- will be added to the list of more than 130 individuals under a visa ban and whose assets are frozen.
It is the first time that business people and companies in Zimbabwe have been targetted by EU measures.
The move, at talks in Brussels, was announced despite the signing Monday of a deal between veteran President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on the framework of the talks.
President Mugabe was re-elected in a run-off last month after his opponent Tsvangirai pulled out, citing a campaign of intimidation and violence against his supporters that had killed dozens and injured thousands.
Britain said earlier this month that it was seeking tougher EU sanctions after a bid to pass United Nations sanctions against Zimbabwe's leadership was vetoed by Security Council members Russia and China.
"The sanctions that we and others are proposing are designed very much to reinforce the drive for the transition government to reflect the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said as he arrived for the meeting Tuesday.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of the year said: "Sanctions have played a role, we have to keep up that role."
AFP
ARTICLE ATTACHMENTS
READER OPINIONS
Mthandazo Gumede • thandagu@yahoo.com Subject: Sanctions Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:31:17 • This iconic celebration of what you want is wrong, and create the bad Zimbabwe that we wanna run away from. Wwhy are you or did you refuse/fail to publish my comment supporting the sanctions. You have my email and we can debate with fellow Zimbabweans? I am black, proud Ndebele and very Zimbabwean but support the sanctions without shame. Even on ZTV or ZBC, i can justify my position. Viva sanctions !
n/a • n/a Subject: EU sanctions Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:50:00 • At last the EU has displayed its true intentions for all the world to see. The EU does not give a toss about the welfare of ordinary black Zimbabweans.It is only interested in regime change so as to protect its interests and those of white farmers.Its encouraging to note that a lot of MDC-T supporters are now realisng what is at stake. Instead of encouraging the current talks, the EU is piling more economic pressure so that the ordinary Zimbabwe suffers even more.These sanctions are not targeted and are meant to separate the people from the govt.A lot of Zimbabweans have now realised this .Zims don't be fooled about all this talk about democracy, rule of law, property rights etc. Its all about the West grabbing your land and resources and benefitting themselves at the expense of the Zims.Have you ever wondered why Roy Bennett (MDC-T's treasurer), a well known Selous Scout who butchered thousands of black Zims during the liberation struggle is at the vanguard of introducing so called democracy in Zim.Roy Bennett spent his youth fighting black Zimbabweans in order to deny them democracy. All of a sudden Roy Bennett has had a change of heart and is now a democrat. It is people like Bennett who are liaising with the EU to put more sanctions on Zim. Zims you are your own liberators and not the likes of Bennett and the EU. Self-help, Look inward and Look East is the way forward. Even the West is looking East.
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:45:25 • 'Look Inward' and Look East, Africans.
This is yet another eye-opening moment for celebration!
Know your racist ENEMY!
When your historically racist Europeans ENEMIES do not want to associate with you, it is a BLESSED time to be grateful; dig deep inside; and embrace Africans' FRIENDS from the enlightened East!
Enlightened Africans, it is a moment of joy when your enemies, of their own free will. seek to stay away. lol
So 'Look Inward' and Look East, Africans!
Through Self-determination, Self-development, Self-sufficiency and Self-reliance, Africans will create Peace, Progress & Prosperity in their indigenous space!
PAT • N/A Subject: SANCTIONS Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:39:00 • These sanctions by these people,are not for the good of the people, all they want is to destroy our Zimbabwe.do you think they care about the people?All they care about is the handfull of the white people whose 'land' was taken from them.I think this is now the time for us as zimbabweans to speak with one voice against these people.These hypocrites want us to fight each other,just like in Kenya,but they under estimated us .Zimbabweans are educated people we are not war mongers.well Britain and your friends you can keep on pilling your so called'sanctions and see if we gonna kneel for you.People have suffered alot.these sanctions are not affecting the intended people,they are affecting us the ordinary people.Please leave Zimbabwe alone .Leave Zimbabwe to the Africans.
Tino Tonga • tonga@yahoo.co.uk Subject: UK, EU, US Agenda Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:16:27 • I think this should help the MDC sympathisers know that they are only useful to these buggers of they are pushing the Regime Change Agenda. If the MDC abandons the regime change agenda and start Thinking Zimbabwean, these buggers are quite happy to try and go it alone.
100% Empowerment.
Nyika Ndeyedu vakomana, Nyika ndeyedu
Patrick Fletcher • hajray@gmail.com Subject: EU broadens Zimbabwe sanctions Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:09:53 • What all Africans everywhere, and non-western folks should do is pull their savings out of European banks, and also pull their investment out of Europe. Since Europe wants to select who African leaders should, they will do it to all non-western countries as well, we must send a clear message to the west.
Supertee • n/a Subject: Sanctions Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:52:55 • What kind of arrogance is this? Instead of supporting the negotiations currently taking place the antagonists are busy trying to divide Zimbabweans. Come on European politicians you can do better than this. Zimbabweans should unite against these sanctions for they are ill-informed and aimed at stalling the talks led by son of the soil Thabo Mbeki
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