Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s long held narrative that sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and European Union are responsible for the worsening economic situation has faltered again after the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen challenged government to bring tangible evidence that the embargo was hurting ordinary people as often alleged.

Addressing journalists in Harare on Tuesday, Olkkonen said sanctions were targeted at government officials fingered in human rights abuses and not the ordinary people.

“EU sanctions are highly legal instruments,” said the EU diplomat, “They are drafted and agreed upon on the basis that they could be subject of a legal scrutiny that gives the basis of how those entities and individuals are on that list.

“How they work, you need to find from open sources enough evidence and reasons to add people on that list. We are now referring to what has been happening in the past.”