Campaign Success: 
EU renew restrictive measures on Zimbabwe
The European Union has re-adopted its common position of restrictive measures against the Zimbabwe government for a further year (until February 2009).
ACTSA with the international trade union movement led the campaign for renewal of the sanctions that see members of the Zimbabwean government banned from traveling to the European Union, their financial assets held in Europe frozen and an arms embargo placed on the country.
ACTSA Director Tony Dykes said “We welcome the news that the EU have continued to take a firm stance with the government in Zimbabwe. The reasons for upholding the sanctions have never been stronger and we now call upon the EU to make sure these measures are enforced in practice by not allowing Mugabe and his government into Europe until basic human rights are respected."
A spokesperson from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) supported the EU’s decision. She also said “We call upon not only the EU, but also all countries of the world, to bar Mugabe and his government in their countries in an effort to force him to deal with the crisis in his backyard."
The EU’s decision comes just weeks before the Zimbabwean elections are set to take place.
Background on the EU sanctions on the Zimbabwean Government
The EU adopted the above position in 2002, as the Mugabe regime threw all sense of democracy and human rights adrift. These sanctions against Mugabe have been renewed year after year as Mugabe's oppression has increased.
The Zimbabwe congress of trade unions as one of the most important and democratic organisations in Zimbabwe is supporting the call for sanctions to be renewed. Read their position here
What do the sanctions do?
* Restrict Robert Mugabe from travelling to the EU.
* Restrict those in the Zimbabwean government that are committing crimes against fellow Zimbabweans from travelling to the EU.
* Any assets held by Mugabe and his cronies in the EU are frozen, so that they can no longer live the life of luxury while the people of Zimbabwe starve.
* Prevent Mugabe from furthering his military hold over the population and using weapons to suppress the Zimbabwean people, through an arms embargo.
Why must these sanctions be upheld by all member states?
In past few years the Mugabe regime has taken Zimbabwe to near breaking point. It has victimised and starved its people.
* Operation Murambatsvina in May 2005 saw the destruction of homes and jobs of some of Zimbabwe's poorest people. It displaced between 700,000 to 1 million people, with hundreds of thousands more left without livelihoods.
* One year on from this devastating operation, church leaders were arrested and warned that prayer services to mark the anniversary would be broken up and people would be arrested.
* In September 2006, Leaders of the Zimbabwe Trade Union movement were arrested and tortured for conducting a peaceful and lawful protest about access to ARV's, reduction in taxes and a living wage.
* Robert Mugabe's response to these allegations was 'Yes you will be thoroughly beaten.'
* In 2007, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was brutally assaulted for staging a peaceful demonstration in Harare. Mugabe was cited as saying 'yes, and this will happen again.'
* The hyperinflation rate currently stands at over 8,000% and rising. Ordinary Zimbabweans can barely afford bread and sugar.
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