EU removes 5 dead Zimbabwean politicians from sanctions list

ZANU-PF yesterday blasted as nonsensical the move by the European Union (EU) to remove five deceased politicians and heads of government departments from its sanctions list while maintaining the sanctions on the First Family.

In an EU journal published yesterday, the body removed the late National Railways of Zimbabwe general manager Retired Air Commodore Mike Karakadzai, late Zanu-PF legislator Edward Chindori Chininga, Stanley Sakupwanya, Lovemore Sekeramayi and Nathan Shamuyarira.

Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday reiterated the party's position that there should be total removal of sanctions.

"The sanctions against the First Family are illegal. We have maintained that they should be removed because they aren't justified. Zimbabwe isn't excited by such nonsensical statements," said Khaya Moyo.

"These illegal sanctions have done nothing but to destroy our economy. It doesn't matter what they try to do to us, we will persevere just like we have been doing all these years.

"We're a resilient nation. The country will continue with its indigenisation policy and implementation of Zim –Asset. If we need assistance, that assistance will come from our friends all over the world."

The EU imposed sanctions on the country in 2002 placing a number of government officials and security personnel under travel bans and also freezing assets of the officials and business representatives.

However, over the years, the EU has removed the government officials and security personnel leaving President Mugabe and First Lady Grace Mugabe under the travel ban.

Early this month, the EU said it was easing President Mugabe's travel ban for the year he is serving as African Union chairperson.

In a journal published yesterday, the EU said the measures on the First Family should be renewed until February 2016.

"The application of the travel ban and asset freeze should be maintained for two persons and one entity set out in Annex I to Decision 2011/101/CFSP. The suspension of the travel ban and asset freeze for persons and entities as listed in Annex II to that Decision should also be renewed.

"The names of five deceased persons should be removed from Annex I and II to that Decision," read the journal.

The sanctions continue to haunt the economy with the embargo costing the nation $42 billion in revenue.

Despite the machinations by the EU and its Western allies, President Mugabe remains an icon in Africa and the world over due to his pro poor policies and strong beliefs that the country's resources should benefit its citizens.