* EU keeps arms, aid embargoes in place
* Likely to remove a third of people from sanctions list
* ZANU-PF says EU should scrap “illegal” sanctions
(Adds EU decision)
By Cris Chinaka
HARARE, Feb 17 (Reuters) – Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party on Friday criticised the European Union’s
decision to maintain sanctions against the country’s leadership
and accused it of trying to topple its veteran leader.
The EU’s 27 member states extended an arms embargo and a
freeze on development aid to Zimbabwe on Friday for another six
months, saying they wanted deep political reforms and prospects
for credible and peaceful elections before lifting them.
They did, however, remove a third of the people from the
list of those affected by asset freezes and visa bans and lifted
a prohibition on European companies doing business with 20
Zimbabwean entities.
ZANU-PF chief party spokesman Rugare Gumbo said the EU
should scrap all sanctions, calling them “illegal” and blaming
them for damaging Zimbabwe’s economy.
“The whole sanctions regime is illegal and racist, and we
are not going to celebrate decisions meant to patronise us while
they act as lords over our political affairs,” he told Reuters.
Continued…
