Obama's 'hostile goodbye' to Mugabe

OUTGOING US President Barack Obama's outgoing administrationd extended its sanctions against the Harare regime by another year.

According to NewZimbabwe.com, the sanctions were extended in conformity with the Washington's national emergency policies aimed at dealing with perceived "threats" in Cuba and Venezuela, along with Iran, Libya, Ukraine, Zimbabwe and countries Washington claims "support terrorism."

The US in 2001 enacted the controversial Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA) in attempts to force a change of behaviour by the Harare regime.

The sanctions were imposed at the height of invasions on white owned land by President Mugabe's militant followers, poll theft and rights abuses.

The travel embargo and asset freeze has however, been criticised for failing to achieve its objectives as the Zanu-PF regime continues on a brutal path, the latest being assaults, arbitrary arrests and abductions on critics.

The sanctions, which have been reviewed annually, targeted members of President Mugabe's inner circle, the military top brass and associated companies accused of undermining democracy in the country.

Zimbabwe's opposition welcomed the development but a Zanu-PF minister scorned the move, describing it as inconsequential from an Obama government nearing its end.