News / National
'Sanctions on Zimbabwe have been effective,' says Britain
12 Feb 2014 at 07:44hrs | Views
British Foreign Minister Mark Simmonds yesterday said sanctions on Zimbabwe had been effective and were an important tool in promoting democracy and reform in Zimbabwe, the Insider reported.
The reforms included the new constitution agreed last year, and the signing of the global political agreement that brought about the government of national unity.
Simmonds was responding to a question in the House of Commons from Matthew Offord who wanted to know the effectiveness of financial sanctions on members of the government of Zimbabwe.
He said that although some had argued that the sanctions - which he said were more properly known as restrictive measures- had served as anti-western propagandas for Zanu-PF, he believed that asset freezes had played an important role in promoting democracy and reform.
Simmonds, however, said Britain was still concerned about the democratic environment in Zimbabwe, especially the conduct of the 2013 elections which it said were not free and fair. He also said the European Union was currently completing the review of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Britain has so far not disclosed the assets frozen, their value or who owned those assets.
The reforms included the new constitution agreed last year, and the signing of the global political agreement that brought about the government of national unity.
Simmonds was responding to a question in the House of Commons from Matthew Offord who wanted to know the effectiveness of financial sanctions on members of the government of Zimbabwe.
He said that although some had argued that the sanctions - which he said were more properly known as restrictive measures- had served as anti-western propagandas for Zanu-PF, he believed that asset freezes had played an important role in promoting democracy and reform.
Simmonds, however, said Britain was still concerned about the democratic environment in Zimbabwe, especially the conduct of the 2013 elections which it said were not free and fair. He also said the European Union was currently completing the review of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Britain has so far not disclosed the assets frozen, their value or who owned those assets.
Source - The Insider
