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EU sanctions list

    JOHANNESBURG

    "Smart sanctions" imposed by the European Union (EU) on Zimbabwe's political leadership have targeted President Robert Mugabe's inner circle rather than his cabinet.

    Among the 20 people identified by the EU for a travel ban to Europe and a freezing of assets are Zimbabwe's top military and intelligence chiefs.

    Second on the EU's list after Mugabe is Cabinet Secretary Charles Mutete, often referred to as Zimbabwe's de facto prime minister. He is followed by Parliamentary Speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former security boss who has been touted as Mugabe's successor.

    Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo, Security Minister Nicholas Goche and Youth Minister Elliot Manyika - the ruling party's "political commissar" - are also named.

    Also on the list are Information Minister Jonathan Moyo; Permanent Secretary for Information in the Office of the President George Charamba; Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa; Agriculture Minister Joseph Made; Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo; Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Senior Secretary Willard Chiwewe.

    The military personalities are headed by defence force commander General Vitalis Zvinavashe, who had earlier said he would not serve a president that did not have a liberation war background - believed to be a reference to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

    Also named are army commander General Constantine Chiwenga; air force chief Perence Shiri; police commissioner Augustine Chihuri; head of the Central Intelligence Organisation Elisha Muzonzini; prisons chief Paradzi Zimondi and Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi.

    The EU applied sanctions on 18 February in a row over the accreditation of EU election observers for the 9-10 March presidential elections. The EU observer team, which was to have been headed by Swedish former minister Pierre Schori - who led an EU team that was critical of Zimbabwe's 2000 legislative elections - was also withdrawn.

    Mugabe has dismissed the impact of EU sanctions, and similar measures applied by the United States.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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