Britain officially lift sanctions on Mugabe's lieutenants

The British government officially issued a notice yesterday acknowledging the lifting of sanctions on eight of President Robert Mugabe's lieutenants by the European Union last week.

Only Mugabe, his wife Grace, and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries remain on the list.

The sanctions were lifted on: Happyton Mabhuya Bonyongwe, director –general of the Central Intelligence Organisation; Augustine Chihuri, police commissioner; Constantine Chiwenga, commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces; Didymus Noel Edwin Mutasa, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the President's Office; Douglas Nyikayaramba, commander 3rd Brigade; Perrence Shiri, a.k.a Samson Chikerema, commander Air Force; Jabulani Sibanda, former chair National War Veterans Association; Phillip Valerio Sibanda, commander Zimbabwe National Army.

The notice said the eight join 81 individuals and eight entities that were removed from the list last year.

Zimbabwe has been under EU sanctions for more than a decade.