The European Union (EU) has lifted individual sanctions on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda and former first lady Grace Mugabe while extending an arms embargo first imposed in 2002.
In a statement yesterday, the EU said they recalled the restrictive measures so as to encourage a demonstrable, genuine and long-term commitment by the Zimbabwean authorities to respect and uphold human rights and the rule of law.
“The EU has decided to renew its restrictive measures, while lifting the already suspended restrictive measures against three individuals. The arms embargo and the targeted assets freeze against one company, Zimbabwe Defence Industries, remain in place taking into account the situation in Zimbabwe, as well as the continuing need to investigate the role of security forces in human rights abuses.
“The EU will continue to closely follow developments, with a particular attention to the human rights situation, and recalls its readiness to review and adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly.” Read the statement.
The sanctions have been reviewed annually since 2002 when the EU slapped more than 100 officials with individual sanctions, accusing them of human rights abuses. Names were gradually removed and by 2018 only the former president Robert Mugabe, his wife, Chiwenga – who was blacklisted while commanding the military and Sibanda remained.
The EU said since the last review in February last year, “the situation in terms of respect for human rights has not improved in Zimbabwe.”