EU lift sanctions on Zimbabwe's officials except Mugabe, wife

The European Union confirmed Wednesday the suspension of restrictive measures on Zimbabwe's eight senior military and government officials, but kept them on the country's veteran leader President Robert Mugabe, who turns 90 on Friday, and his wife Grace Mugabe. The director for Horn of Africa, East and Southern Africa, Indian Ocean at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Koen Vervaeke announced the decision at a press conference in Harare. Vervaeke said the EU decision had been taken in view of progress made by Zimbabwe in implementing democratic reforms. "This reflects not only the progress that has been made but also the challenges that remain. The EU has taken these steps to support the Zimbabwean people to achieve a more prosperous and democratic future," said the EU. The EU has been reviewing the sanctions annually since it introduced them in 2002 alleging human rights violations by Mugabe's government. The latest move leaves only two people out of the original 192 persons and one economic entity out of the initial 87 on the sanctions list. The EU also maintains an arms embargo on the southern African country. The EU pledged to resume channeling development aid directly to the Zimbabwe government with effect from November this year as part of normalization of relations between the two sides that had been strained for over a decade now. Since imposition of the sanctions, the EU was channeling development aid to Zimbabwe through the United Nations and non- governmental organizations. Asked on why Mugabe still remained on the sanctions list, Vervaeke said it was because "he is ultimately responsible for the state of affairs in Zimbabwe." The EU had also kept Mugabe's wife, Grace, on the sanctions list because it was difficult to separate the two, said Vervaeke. Pressed on what Mugabe needs to do to be removed from the sanctions list, the EU official said the president needed to further implement democratic reforms. Accompanying Vervaeke at the press conference was the EU's director for East and Southern Africa and ACP Coordination Francesca Mosca who refuted that the EU measures had a direct economic and social impact on Zimbabwe. She said the EU had in fact, disbursed 1.4 billion euros to support various programs in Zimbabwe since 2009. Mosca, who is also former EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, had traveled together with Vervaeke to Zimbabwe to personally communicate the EU decision to the Zimbabwean authorities. The Zimbabwe government has dismissed the piecemeal suspension of the embargo, and called for the total removal of the sanctions.