Trouble for Mnangagwa administration as EU renews sanctions

Staff Writer
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has been slapped with yet another one year’s long sanctions by the European Union in a development that will throw the embattled Southern African government into more trouble.
The details are contained in a statement of the proceedings released Monday by the EU’s general council secretariat which highlighted the decision came as a result of Zimbabwe’s lack of robust reforms.
“ The EU has decided to renew its arms embargo and to maintain a targeted assets freeze against one company, Zimbabwe Defence Industries, for one year, taking into account the situation in Zimbabwe, including the yet to be investigated alleged role of the armed and security forces in human rights abuses,” the statement said.
Restrictive measures on four unnamed individuals have been removed.
The EU bemoaned the continued lack of substantial reforms and the further shrinking of democratic space and corruption as major contributing factors to the current deteriorating humanitarian crisis, economic and social situation.
The move comes despite Mnangagwa’s administration’s efforts to improve the humanitarian situation by accelerating the reengagement process and opening up the democratic space.
But nevertheless , EU expresses dissatisfaction over the current efforts and instead has ordered government to do more.
“Perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses should swiftly be brought to justice and the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry should be implemented without further delay. In addition, an inclusive national dialogue is key to finding structural and durable solutions to the challenges faced by Zimbabwe,” EU said.
The regional bloc has however pledged to directly support the people of Zimbabwe in various sectors, such as economic development, primary health care, resilience building, as well as through humanitarian assistance.
Zimbabwe Defence Industries , an ammunition manufacturing company owned by government is suspected of being used as a vehicle to purchase weapons using millions of dollars at a time the country’s nationals cannot afford basic commodities.
Despite assurances of a major turnaround in 2017 when Mnangagwa took over power through a coup, the plight of Zimbabweans has worsened to the extent that many wish for the return of the former late President Robert Mugabe.
Inflation has reached a ten year high with the economy effectively redollarising despite the central bank maintaining that the US$ era is a bygone.