By Innocent Mujeri

The European Union today announced that it will maintain the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe for a further one year and has frozen assets for the Zimbabwe Defence Industries, the Harare Post can report.

Sanctions against Zimbabwe were first enforced in 2001 as a direct response to the land reform program by the Government of Zimbabwe.

The General Secretariat of the European Union Council announced in a statement released today that the embargo on Zimbabwe are to be extended for a further one year, marking 20 years of their existence.

“The EU has decided to renew its arms embargo and to maintain a targeted assets freeze against one company, Zimbabwe Defence Industries, for one year, taking into account the situation in Zimbabwe, including the yet to be investigated alleged role of the armed and security forces in human rights abuses,” said the European Union in a statement.

The maintenance of the illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe comes at a time when many diplomats are calling for their unconditional removal.

Former African Union Ambassador to the United States Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, last week added her voice to the call for the lifting of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

In her call she highlighted how sanctions have affected food security and the health sector and she urged the European Union to unconditionally lift the sanctions as they are more of a crime against humanity.

Political analysts Mr Tashinga Chabayanzara blasted the European Union for the mantainence of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

“Ironically, the European bloc had all along claimed there were no economic sanctions on Zimbabwe but just travel bans and asset freezes on Zanu-PF leaders and their associates. However, imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe Defence Industries is a clear sign that sanctions are a tool to weaken the security sector as well as to effect regime change,” said Chabayanzara.

Another analyst who preferred anonymity said that sanctions have since lost their intended purpose as Zimbabwe is still soldering on with sanctions still hanging above it.

“EU needs to come to terms, and very quickly so, with the fact that the land reform program is irreversible, therefore they must remove the sanctions as they will not cause the reversal of the land policy.

The renewal of sanctions comes at a time Government is reengaging with other progressive nations who want to see the success of the New Dispensation.