The European Union is on Monday set to relax its sanctions regime on Zimbabwe as the country prepares to hold a referendum on a new constitution next month.
Europe’s Foreign Affairs ministers will meet in Brussels and Zimbabwe is expected to be part of the agenda.
The United Kingdom and Germany are reportedly pushing for a slight modification of the sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle following a disputed election in 2002.
EU diplomats have already indicated that a number of names would be removed from the sanctions list that has 112 officials aligned to President Mugabe’s Zanu PF party and 11 state companies.
The block last year removed 50 people from the list after noting progress in reforms proposed by Harare’s coalition government but some member countries remain sceptical.
“The situation has not yet developed clearly in the way we want to see,” an unnamed diplomat was quoted saying at the weekend.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold general elections in July , which will end a troubled four-year inclusive government.
President Mugabe has argued that the sanctions only affect ordinary people while the EU maintains the embargo is targeted at individuals responsible for human rights violations.
The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also have their own targeted measures against the veteran ruler and his inner circle.
NMG
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