Lifting of sanctions hinges on reforms: UK

President Robert Mugabe, in an address to Parliament on Tuesday, toned down his rhetoric against Western governments whom he blames for orchestrating the country’s demise and implored them to remove the “illegal sanctions”, which he said were hurting the people and the country’s economy.
Mugabe said Zimbabwe was ready to begin on a new chapter of “friendly relations” with Western countries and move away from hostilities of the past decade.
But Keith Scott, spokesperson for the British embassy in Harare said on Thursday while his country welcomes Mugabe’s commitment to re-engage Western governments the decision to lift sanctions will be influenced by reforms undertaken in the country and the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) that gave birth to the February unity government.
“We welcome President Mugabe’s commitment to re-engage the West and the commitment by all of Zimbabwe’s leaders to implement the reforms they agreed to in the Global Political Agreement and to deliver basic services to Zimbabwe’s people . . . The extent of Britain’s future support will depend on progress by the inclusive government in implementing the Global Political Agreement . . . Our position on the targeted measures will only be influenced by evidence of real reform on the ground,” Scott told ZimOnline.
Scott disputed Mugabe’s claims that the targeted sanctions were hurting ordinary Zimbabweans and the economy.
“The United Kingdom has no unilateral or economic sanctions against Zimbabwe. The current range of European Union targeted measures is directed against those 203 individuals and 40 organisations in Zimbabwe responsible for human rights abuses, corruption and undermining the rule of law. The measures have no adverse effect on ordinary people or humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe,” he said.
On Wednesday, the United States (US) reacted coolly to Mugabe’s overture for better ties, saying he should end political arrests and media censorship and honour the GPA.
The US also urged Mugabe to end “politicised arrests and prosecutions and often violent land seizures” as well as to replace what it described as Zimbabwe’s “corrupt attorney general and reserve bank governor”.
Several Western nations including the European Union (EU), the United States (US) and Canada imposed sanctions on Mugabe and his ZANU PF party inner circle in 2002 protesting against alleged human rights abuses by Harare.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed a power-sharing government to end a political stalemate after inconclusive elections last year and pledged to work
together to revive the economy that had been in decline for the past decade.
The unity government has undertaken to end the country’s international isolation and repair ties with Western countries including the EU, the Commonwealth grouping of former British colonies, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for possible resumption of financial support.