A London based protest group, the Zimbabwe Vigil has criticized the European Union for its said ‘recent actions’ which may soon result in sanctions (also known as restrictive measures) against President Robert Mugabe and members of his inner circle of power, being suspended.
The criticism comes after the state media horn-blew a report stating that the EU is now set to lift sanctions following a credible referendum. The criticism comes despite revelations that the Zimbabwe report is a mere exaggeration since ambassador Aldo Dell’ Ariccia’s words were nothing new but had been already communicated 7 months ago by the EU.
The state media last week reported stating that there were now hopes that EU would lift sanctions following  a credible referendum, “The EU stated that a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum would justify a suspension of the majority of all restrictive measures,” he said, adding: “In this context, the recent agreement on the Constitution draft is a welcome step in that direction,” Ambassador Aldo Dell’ Ariccia was quoted as stating.
Soon afterwards, the London based Zim Vigil blasted the EU calling on it to wait for real reforms in Zimbabwe before they consider lifting the targeted restrictive ‘sanctions’ in place against the Mugabe regime. Dennis Benton from the London based pressure group the Zimbabwe Vigil was on Monday quoted by SW Radio Africa stating that Europe’s position is suspicious. He said the “EU seems desperate to engage with Zimbabwe on any terms,” saying it is no accident that European officials paint the Zim situation with a “positive gloss.”
“They are desperately keen to get rid of sanctions and vie with the Chinese in terms of commercial interests,” Benton said.
The Vigil has for years been pressuring the EU to stand by its restrictive ‘sanctions’ until there is evidence of real change, and Benton said that this should include waiting until after an election. He said international observers and real reforms need to be evident before there is even talk of lifting the measures. Benton’s words follow those of US Ambassador David Bruce Wharton who has voiced concern about the presence of government troops across the country and a campaign of intimidation against civil rights advocates by ZANU PF. “We are concerned by the deployment of Zimbabwe Defence Forces throughout the country on nominal ‘administrative service’ duty who may seek to influence how community will vote,” he was quoted by the Sunday Mail newspaper.
But a Council Conclusions on Zimbabwe – Europa on the 23rd July 2012, communique reveals that there is nothing knew in the EU envoy’s words. The communique which reveals that the EU had already contemplated and communicated the same words in July 2012, reads is part:
The EU is encouraged by the progress that is being made in implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe. It welcomes the constructive dialogue that has been established in the process of EU re engagement with all parties in the GNU, including through the meeting in May this year between High Representative Ashton and the members of the Zimbabwe Ministerial Reengagement Committee. The EU welcomes the continued commitment of SADC to support the implementation of the GPA, as expressed at the recent extraordinary SADC Summit in Luanda….The steps taken by the GNU to improve the freedom and prosperity of the Zimbabwean people justify the immediate suspension of the measures hitherto applied under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. This will allow the EU to work directly with the GNU to develop new assistance programmes for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe that would come on stream under the next European Development Fund.
Huddersfield top lecturer and political commentator, Nkululeko Sibanda has however said that there appears to be desperation on the EU’s position to lift sanctions.
“As  a matter of fact the EU is impatient to lift the sanctions on Zimbabwe necessarily because the main parties are arguing ….that the sanctions are no longer necessary or effective in achieving democracy in the country. And therefore it would seem to me though that they are looking for an excuse. Which raises an excuse to remove them. It raises the question as to whether or not all along they saw them as an effective tool for promoting democracy at all, rather than just a political gimmick on their side.  It certainly raises eyebrows as to why a mere referendum would be seen as important in determining democracy in Zimbabwe…,” he told ZimEye.
Ambassador Dell Arricia has however said that Zimbabweans should wait for a February 18 summit when the EU will sit to debate democracy issues and any possibility of lifting sanctions.