By James Gwati-The European Union said it was concerned about the continuing abuse of human rights by President Emerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Mnangagwa, who replaced the late and former long-serving Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe through a military coup in November 2017, had promised to be a better devil than his predecessor.

In the run-up to the July 2018 elections which later endorsed him as the country’s elected President, Mnangagwa promised to respect the rule of law. But a few days after his election, on the 1stof August 2018, his administration unleashed soldiers on unarmed civilians and killed at least six people.

Since then President Mnangagwa’s government has been on a human rights spree where is using soldiers and the police to butcher civilians.

In a statement, Friday when it was announcing the review on sanctions on Zimbabwe, the EU said the proliferation of arrests and prosecutions of journalists, opposition actors and individuals expressing dissenting views, and the use by high-level officials of speech that could be interpreted as incitement to violence was disturbing.

“The Government of Zimbabwe has committed to adhere fully to its constitutional and international human rights obligations which imply respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, including addressing impunity. Perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses should swiftly be brought to justice and the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry should be implemented as a matter of priority and urgency,” said EU.

“In light of its continuing concerns, the EU has reviewed its restrictive measures, recalling their purpose to encourage a demonstrable, genuine and long-term commitment by the Zimbabwean authorities to respect and uphold human rights and the rule of law. The EU has decided to renew its arms embargo and to maintain a targeted assets freeze against one company, Zimbabwe Defence Industries, taking into account the situation in Zimbabwe, including the continuing need to investigate the role of security force actors in human rights abuses,” said the western bloc.

Brussels said it will continue to closely follow developments in Zimbabwe, with particular attention to the human rights situation.

Contrary to what Zanu PF propagates to the nation, the EU said the renewed sanctions do not affect the people of Zimbabwe, its economy, foreign direct investment, or trade.

“ Zimbabwe continues to benefit from duty-free and quota-free access of its exports to the EU, with negotiations to deepen the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) ongoing. Accelerated political and economic reforms, respect for human rights, boosting trust in the rule of law and tackling corruption would contribute significantly to investor confidence, build a steady business climate and facilitate Zimbabwe in taking full advantage of the opportunities the EPA provides,” said EU.

EU slapped Harare with sanctions at the turn of the millennium after the former President Robert Mugabe’s government had embarked on a chaotic land reform program and chased away former white commercial farmers from their land without compensation.