THE European Union (EU) is set to hand down a new set of
sanctions against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration in the wake of
persistent human rights violations as well as the deteriorating socio-political
and economic situation in the country.
Citing the recent protests and the subsequent deployment of
security forces to violently quell demonstrations, which allegedly left 17
people dead, and failure to honour an earlier pledge by Mnangagwa to reform the
country’s politics, the EU Parliament resolved on Wednesday to tighten the
restrictive measures.
Mnangagwa was removed from the sanctions list along with
many others in 2014, leaving only then President Robert Mugabe and his wife
Grace.
Since taking over power in 2017 through a coup, Mnangagwa
has presented himself as a reformist, saying he was willing to get along with
former foes.
But the EU on Wednesday said Mnangagwa has been all talk
with no action on the promised reforms.
In a statement on Wednesday, the EU Parliament called on
the European Council to review its restrictive measures against individuals and
entities in Zimbabwe, including those measures currently suspended “in the
light of accountability for recent State violence”.
“(EU) urges the international community, notably the
Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU), to
give more active assistance to Zimbabwe to find a sustainable democratic
solution to the current crisis,” the bloc said.
The bloc urged Mnangagwa to remain true to his early
promises, and to move rapidly to take control of the situation and to put
Zimbabwe back on a path of reconciliation and respect for democracy and the
rule of law.
“(EU) urges the Zimbabwean authorities to put an immediate
end to abuses by security forces and to promptly and impartially investigate
all allegations of excessive use of force by police and state officials in
order to establish individual responsibilities, with a view to ensuring accountability;
recalls that the country’s constitution establishes an independent body to
investigate complaints of police and military misconduct, but that the
government has yet to set it up,” the statement said.
The EU said it underlined the fundamental role that the
opposition plays in a democratic society, while raising concern over the
harassment, detention and mass trial of suspected rioters.
The EU Parliament also condemned the Internet shutdown at
the height of demonstrations, saying it was a ploy to conceal the human rights
abuses committed by the army and police and to obstruct independent reporting
and documentation of the abuses during the crackdown.
The bloc challenged Mnangagwa to implement recommendations
by the EU observer mission following the July 30 elections.
The EU observer mission said the election did not pass
international standards, and urged the Mnangagwa administration to look into
reforming the electoral system, which they said was tilted towards the ruling
party.
The bloc also urged dialogue among key stakeholders. Dialogue between Mnangagwa and his main rival, MDC leader
Nelson Chamisa, has remained elusive as both parties appeared to have failed to
agree on the agenda or mediation for the talks.
Mnangagwa, along with former President Robert Mugabe and
his wife Grace, are among the 141 individuals and entities under United States
sanctions.
The EU lifted most of its restrictions in 2014, but has
maintained sanctions against Mugabe and Grace.
Government has always blamed the sanctions for the collapse
of the economy. Meanwhile, Zanu PF said it was deeply concerned by the
statements made by the United States government that Mnangagwa’s ruling party
must dialogue with the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the US had a
“Big Brother” mentality, vowing the ruling party would not bow to any form of
pressure and would not take instructions from anyone.
“The Donald Trump administration does not have bite for
moral authority to lecture Zimbabwe on how to conduct her affairs. There is no need
for anyone to keep reminding the US that Zimbabwe is a sovereign State and that
sovereignty is sacrosanct, hence, it must be respected by every nation, America
included,” he said in a statement yesterday. Newsday
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