News / National
Targeted or not targeted: Wikileaks exposes EU sanctions scheme
03 Feb 2011 at 18:25hrs | Views
THE European Union pushed "creative" ways of presenting sanctions on Zimbabwe to the world to hide their adverse impact on the country, a confidential US State Department cable released by WikiLeaks reveals.
According to the leaked cable, under a sanctions plan code-named "reftel b", the EU even considered imposing a total investment ban on Zimbabwe.
The plan was, however, dropped after realising that it would hurt British and American investments in Zimbabwe instead of just hurting the economy and making people turn against Zanu-PF and its leadership.
Part of the cable, sent after the 2008 harmonised elections, reads: "The United Kingdom will push for further measures, including an investment ban, to be enacted in September (2008).
"However, the remaining foreign investments in Zimbabwe are British and American, and pursuing an investment ban is difficult."
According to the cable, the Dutch government then proposed another plan they hoped would help disguise the embargo's debilitating economic impact.
Holland's proposal would see European companies stopping business ope-rations in Zimbabwe after claiming an "uneven" business environment.
"For example, governments could use 'moral suasion' rather than an investment ban, with Press statements such as 'it's inconceivable to do business in Zimbabwe'."
"Tesco, UK, has stopped buying from Zimbabwe, and Shell is also considering a sale of assets in Zimbabwe," the cable added.
Tesco stopped buying farm produce from Zimbabwe in 2008 citing political considerations.
Tesco's withdrawal was soon after the announcement of Presidential run-off election results.
In the same year, British companies BP and Shell indicated they would dispose of their assets in Zimbabwe and have since done so.
Other British firms, including Barclays, were pressured by their government to pull out of Zimbabwe that same year.
According to the leaked cable, under a sanctions plan code-named "reftel b", the EU even considered imposing a total investment ban on Zimbabwe.
The plan was, however, dropped after realising that it would hurt British and American investments in Zimbabwe instead of just hurting the economy and making people turn against Zanu-PF and its leadership.
Part of the cable, sent after the 2008 harmonised elections, reads: "The United Kingdom will push for further measures, including an investment ban, to be enacted in September (2008).
"However, the remaining foreign investments in Zimbabwe are British and American, and pursuing an investment ban is difficult."
According to the cable, the Dutch government then proposed another plan they hoped would help disguise the embargo's debilitating economic impact.
Holland's proposal would see European companies stopping business ope-rations in Zimbabwe after claiming an "uneven" business environment.
"For example, governments could use 'moral suasion' rather than an investment ban, with Press statements such as 'it's inconceivable to do business in Zimbabwe'."
"Tesco, UK, has stopped buying from Zimbabwe, and Shell is also considering a sale of assets in Zimbabwe," the cable added.
Tesco stopped buying farm produce from Zimbabwe in 2008 citing political considerations.
Tesco's withdrawal was soon after the announcement of Presidential run-off election results.
In the same year, British companies BP and Shell indicated they would dispose of their assets in Zimbabwe and have since done so.
Other British firms, including Barclays, were pressured by their government to pull out of Zimbabwe that same year.
Source - Byo24
