Zimbabwe's Mugabe Demands End to Sanctions - But Some Call for More

Washington   18 November 2009

While President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe again called this week for the lifting of travel and financial restrictions imposed by Western countries on him and other ZANU-PF officials, some argue that targeted sanctions should be tightened to increase their effectiveness.

Addressing a United Nations summit on food Rome this week, Mr. Mugabe accused “neo-colonialist enemies” of sabotaging Zimbabwe's economy with sanctions, urging their lifting.

The United States, the European Union and others have said they will not seriously consider lifting targeted sanctions until Mr. Mugabe and his former ruling ZANU-PF party fully comply with the 2008 Global Political Agreement for power-sharing in Zimbabwe.

Campaigns Director Briggs Bomba of Washington-based Africa Action, addressing a recent gathering in Washington to honor Women of Zimbabwe Arise Co-Founder Magodonga Mahlangu, said sanctions against Mr. Mugabe and other should be bolstered and and U.S. officials should release information as to the financial assets that have been frozen.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe ...

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