EU to review Zim sanctions in three months

British Foreign Minister Mark Simmonds said the decision whether to lift or continue with the sanctions against Zimbabwe would be that of all members of the European Union and not just the United Kingdom.

Simmonds had been asked by Conservative Member of Parliament Matthew Offord what assessment he had made of the effectiveness of financial sanctions on members of the government of Zimbabwe and individuals associated with them.

He replied that EU sanctions had been an important tool in promoting reform in Zimbabwe.

“While we commend the people of Zimbabwe on holding peaceful elections on 31 July, we have grave concerns over their conduct. The UK remains committed to promoting democratic reform in Zimbabwe and to supporting the Zimbabwean people’s aspiration for a peaceful and democratic future,” he said.

“The EU will be reviewing all restrictive measures on Zimbabwe in February 2014. Their future will be a decision for all member states, and not just the UK.”

Only 10 people and one company remain on the sanctions list. These are:

• President Robert Mugabe
• First Lady Grace Mugabe
• ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa
• War Veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda
• Central Intelligence Organisation head Happyton Bonyongwe
• Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri
• Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence forces Constantine Chiwenga
• Air Force chief Perrence Shiri
• Army commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda
• Army Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba, and the
• Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

The United States has not reviewed its sanctions on Zimbabwe but it was under pressure from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme yesterday to follow the example of the European Union by lifting sanctions on Zimbabwe’s diamonds.

The KP cleared Zimbabwe’s diamonds nearly three years ago but the country was not able to openly trade its diamonds because of the EU and US sanctions.

The Parliamentary Committee on Mining said Zimbabwe was forced to sell its diamonds at less than 25 percent of the market value because of the sanctions.

Although the EU has lifted its sanctions, Zimbabwe is still not likely to realise full value for its diamonds because the United States controls money transfers in United States dollars and can therefore freeze any payments to Zimbabwe.

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