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European Union extends sanctions on Mugabe on the eve of his 93rd birthday

The European Union today extended its sanctions on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, by another year to 20 February 2018 on the eve of Mugabe’s 93rd birthday.

Mugabe turns 93 tomorrow and has vowed to contest elections scheduled for next year.

The EU also extended sanctions on the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

Former United States President Barack Obama extended sanctions on Mugabe and his lieutenants just before he stepped down last month a move that was described by Mugabe as utter arrogance.

Mugabe said that although he did not expect United States President Donald Trump to win the elections last year he didn’t like Hilary Clinton to win either because she was instrumental in imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe.

“I was surprised by his election, but I didn’t like Madam Clinton to win either,” he said in an interview being broadcast tonight and tomorrow on national television to mark his 93rd birthday.

“You see, I knew she could slap sanctions on us as a legacy. Indeed Obama did that just before he left. Why did he have to do it?… Why didn’t he leave it to the incoming incumbent to make his own decision? We are just now under sanctions imposed not by Donald Trump, but by Obama. What arrogance is that?” he said in an excerpt published by the State-controlled Sunday Mail.

“But anyway, when it comes to Donald Trump, on the one hand talking of American nationalism, well America for America, America for Americans — on that we agree. Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans.

“But he is radical. I don’t know whether the construction of the wall between America and Mexico is feasible; a feasible proposition. It appears quite nasty. I don’t know how the Mexicans will take it. I thought the Americans once loved Mexico.

“I don’t know. Give him time. He might come up with better policies,” Mugabe said.

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Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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