Mixed reaction to the easing of EU targeted sanctions

The targeted measures were put in place in response to human rights abuses by the Mugabe regime. The removal of individuals from the list, that takes place at most reviews, is apparently meant to encourage those on the blacklist to mend their ways. Emilio Rosetti, the first secretary of the EU delegation to Zimbabwe, announced the results of this latest review, but did not offer any explanation as to why they de-listed the selected individuals.

It was left to the media to try to make sense of the reasons for delisting. The more obvious were Mugabes sister Sabina, Police Assistant Commissioner Thomsen Jangara, former Mashonaland Central governor Ephraim Masawi and Thenjiwe Lesabe, who have all passed away.

Dominating the names of those removed on Tuesday are the spouses of key regime members still on the blacklist. According to a report by Newsday, Willia Bonyongwe, chairperson of the Securities Commission and wife of the Central Intelligence Organisation director-general, Happyton Bonyongwe, Anne Flora Chairuka, who is married to the Commander of the Zimbabwe Prison Service, Paradzai Zimondi and Rudo Grace Charamba, wife of Presidential spokesman George Charamba, were removed.

Also benefiting from the review were Isobel Halima, the wife of police chief Augustine Chihuri, Helen Gono the wife of central bank Governor Gideon Gono, Tsitsi Chihuri the wife of State Security Minister Sydney Sekeremayi, Choice Parirenyatwa, former Health Minister David Parirenyatwas wife, and Patricia Made, the wife of Agriculture Minister Joseph Made.

A surprising removal was Council of Chiefs President, Fortune Charumbira, who has been at the centre of many reports on political violence and intimidation. It was speculated that his rant in January last year, blasting the government for politicizing traditional leaders and demanding the formation of an independent administration body to oversee their affairs, might have helped his cause.

Other notable people removed from the list include former health minister Timothy Stamps, Zimbabwe Cricket Chief Peter Chingoka and former cabinet minister and veteran nationalist Victoria Chitepo. Former Attorney General Sobusa Gula Ndebele, a victim of the power struggles in ZANU PF, was also removed from the list, as was victimized former Finance Minister, Chris Kuruneri.

Geoffrey Van Orden, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who spearheads their campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe, welcomed the council’s decision to maintain the restrictions on the remaining 163 people and 31 companies.

“While there has been some economic progress in Zimbabwe, little has changed in the political situation and democratic rights continue to be seriously abused. Mugabe and Zanu-PF have flouted the key terms of the ‘Global Political Agreement’ they signed with Tsvangirai’s MDC party more than 2 years ago. Mugabe has unilaterally appointed his cronies to key positions, he said.

Van Orden said Mugabe, with help from his security apparatus, still clings on to the levers of power and manages to trample on the basic rights of the Zimbabwean people. Journalists and MDC supporters are still routinely targeted by Zanu-PF activists. He added that until there is real evidence of change, including free elections and an end to harassment of the opposition and journalists alike, the EU is right to keep its measures in place.

Several pro-democracy activists who spoke to SW Radio Africa expressed concern at the timing of the easing of the measures. Most felt that with escalating violence in rural and urban areas more ZANU PF people should have been added to the list, instead of removing them.

Other activists however felt the easing of the measures was meant to divide ZANU PF and encourage regime players to reform. Whatever the motive for the EU to ease the measures, one thing for certain is that ZANU PF has still not shown any intention to stop using violence as a political tool.