The Situation Report attempts to clarify the contested matter of sanctions in Zimbabwe by outlining all the sanctions and measures mentioned in the GPA.
Since the inauguration of the Inclusive Government (IG) in February
2009, sanctions have been one of the major obstacles to the full
implementation of the power-sharing arrangement signed between
Robert Mugabe’s (ZANU-PF; Zimbabwe’s African National Union-
Patriotic Front) and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara.
Article 4 of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) stipulates the “the
parties hereby agree (…) that all forms of measures and sanctions
against Zimbabwe be lifted in order to facilitate a sustainable solution to
the challenges that are currently facing Zimbabwe. It also notes a
commitment to work together to engage the international community with
a view to end the international isolation.
ZANU-PF has blamed the MDC for not doing enough to lobby for the
removal of sanctions. The MDC insists that the responsibility of the
sanctions rests upon the ZANU-PF, whose continued refusal to act in a
democratic and accountable manner is to blame for the persistence of
the sanctions. Governments (USA and UK) have made it clear that they
would consider lifting the restrictive measures only once visible evidence
of reform is evident.
The Situation Report attempts to clarify the contested matter of
sanctions in Zimbabwe by outlining all the sanctions and measures
mentioned in the GPA.
Body
Targeted sanctions, often termed smart sanctions, are usually targeted
at a small circle within the ruling elite. Examples would include;
diplomatic sanctions, travel restrictions or financial sanctions. The
reasoning behind these measures is to pressure key decision makers
considered to bear direct or indirect responsibility for the political or
economic crisis, with the objective of persuading the to change their
behaviour.
, In Zimbabwe, a selected number of Western governments and
international bodies have imposed restrictive measures as a result of the
deteriorating political and economic situations since the 1990’s. The UK
and USA were the first two countries to make a strong case for smart
sanctions against Mugabe in the early 2000’s. The EU, the governments
of Canada, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand have imposed
restrictive measures on the Mugabe regime in the past decade.
The following is the objective of targeted sanctions:
To target a select group of political elite without exerting a negative
impact on the humanitarian situation
To compel sanctioned politicians to change their behaviour by not
supporting the violation of human rights or the freedom of
expression and assembly, and to facilitate democracy
To provide support to the opposition and civil society
Comprehensive summary of all restrictive measures:
Restrictions on arms and military-related trade were the first steps taken
by the UK, USA and the EU following international dissatisfaction with
developments in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the arms embargo were to
weaken the capacity.
USA 2002-2003 restrictive measures on the transfer of defence items
and services.
Only impended in 2003, target sanctions on more than 200 individuals
and businesses and these included travel bans to US, and freezing of
assets. Targeted sanctions were extended for one year by Obama siting
the lack of progress in the resolving of Zimbabwe’s political crisis.
Run up to 2002 presidential elections EU responded to the
Zimbabweans government’s refusal to allow the head of the EU observer
mission imposing comprehensive embargo on military goods to the
good.
Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland have all had an arm embargo in
place since 2002.
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