THE Federal Government of Canada has imposed further sanctions against the government of Zimbabwe citing "intimidation and state-sponsored violence".
A report from the Canadian Foreign Ministry said the new sanctions regime was imposed “in order to respond to the gravity of the situation in Zimbabwe”. The country also expanded the list of “designated persons” who are not allowed to travel to, or do business in, Canada and banned arms exports, froze the assets of top Zimbabwean officials and banned Zimbabwean aircraft from flying over or landing in Canada.
“Under the Regulations, the Governor in Council may approve and list on a schedule to the Regulations the names of persons for which there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are connected with the Government of Zimbabwe,” read part of the document sent to The Zimbabwe Guardian.
The regulations, titled the Special Economic Measures (Zimbabwe) Regulations (SOR/2008-248) came into force on September 4, 2008.
The expanded list includes names of Zanu PF officials’ children and some deceased individuals. It includes the former Minister of Information and Publicity and former permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Dr Tichaona Jokonya who is still listed as a minister. Dr Jokonya died on June 24, 2006. On the same list Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu is also listed as Minister of Information and Publicity.
The spouse of Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, who is listed as Monica Chinamasa is said to have been born in 1905 which makes her 103 years old.
Other officials on the list are given incorrect titles; for instance, Cephas Msipa is still listed as the Provincial Governor for Midlands, but was replaced by Jaison Machaya before Canada announced the new sanctions list. A notable exclusion from the list is former Finance Minister, Dr. Simba Makoni, who served in the Zanu PF government for over 27 years and broke ranks with the ruling party early this year to contest as a presidential candidate under the Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn Project. Former Home Affairs Minister, Dumiso Dabengwa also broke ranks with the ruling party to support Dr Makoni’s Mavambo Project, but is listed on the new sanctions list.
A government official who spoke to The Zimbabwe Guardian on condition of anonymity on Sunday said the new sanctions regime is unjustifiable, especially at a time when all-party talks are taking place.
“These sanctions are unjustifiable. Why now? The timing is just not sensible,” said the official adding that “These countries want the talks to fail so that they can take Zimbabwe to the UN Security Council once again
"The reintroduction of sanctions against Zimbabwe by Canada is another example of Western gesture politics that does very little on the ground. Masking the sanctions as targeted has become almost laughable, especially coming on the backdrop of Western pleas for the lifting of an NGO ban in Zimbabwe. Barely a week after President Mugabe’s government lifted the ban, Canada slams the country with more sanctions."
The official also drew parallels between
Canada’s imposition of sanctions and MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai’s speech at the weekend during the 9th year commemoration of the founding of the MDC party.
“You can tell from the changed tone in Morgan’s (Tsvangirai) rhetoric. His renewed energy is made possible by the new sanctions regime. This is characteristic of the MDC,” said the official.
The official also said that these sanctions are neither targeted nor specific to Zanu PF, but “are aimed at bringing the Zimbabwean economy to its knees and cause more misery on the Zimbabwean people, in an effort to force regime change.” He said, “When you say Air Zimbabwe has been banned from using Canada’s airspace, is that targeted at the Zanu PF government?”
“This new sanctions regime will have a profound impact on the progress of the all-party talks,” which are set to resume today when President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa jets into Zimbabwe to hold talks with the principals from the main parties, according to the official, who is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Mugabe has criticised the MDC-T party of indirectly supporting sanctions against Zimbabwe (by not condemning them). He has also accussed the opposition party for taking cues from the West and thus shifting positions in the all-party talks.
Addressing dignitaries at the official opening of the First Session of the Seventh Parliament in August, President Mugabe said in reference to the sanctions issue, “This time they (MDC-T) have been promised by the British that sanctions would be more devastating, that in six months’ time the Government will collapse.”
“I do not know when that day will come. I wish Tsvangirai well on that day,” he said.
Click here for the full list of individuals on the sanctions list
|
|
Mhofeti yemukoneti • pasizw@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Canada Sanctions on Zanu PF family members
Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:21:58 • I agree with the statement made by Obama in regard to Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant that 'Family is off limits'. The events and mistakes that we have made as a nation on our political journey (who is partly or wholly to blame for it doesn't change the crisis that we are in) makes Zimbabwe such a polarized country that it's no wonder that part of the current negotiations is to facilitate national healing. I very much welcome all the support that we have over the years received from the international community as part of the global family. However the action by Canada to include family members of Zanu PF politicians does not only increase the rift that everyone is working so hard to bridge but also questions the motive and in whose interest/s that is being done. Surely it can't be the MDC party that called for that for the obvious reason of setting a wrong precedent of drawing their family members into the business of sometimes dirty politics. If Canada is not acting on the behest of the MDC party which is accepted by the international community as spear heading the people's project, then how moral and legal is that action from the UN's point of view. The Canadian Governor of Council and the recommending minister wants us to believe that, the decisions that politicians make in their official capacity, are sanctioned by family members. The universally accepted trend is that no-one takes his/her job title home in fact I remember being part to jokes about how certain very senior executive people are just as ordinary as we are to their wives. The moral of the joke was, home is simply a place free of those outside pressures etc where all of us try to be the best dad, mum, wife, husband, children etc that we can be. The appeal of western democracy has lied in the belief that we are all uniquely and individually accountable in contributing towards our collective responsibilities to our communities. The Zanu PF family members have also the same right to be individually presumed innocent until proven guilty and to be responsible for their irresponsibilities. Politics driven by personal vendetta is a threat to human dignity and the universal spirit of reconciliation in the global village. I would also like so say, whilst it's in the right of anyone from anywhere to differ with the Canadian foreign policies, their family members are also off limits. So in the same spirit I'm writing to say that Canada can uniliterally do that as it is capable of doing BUT not in my name as a citizen dreaming of a new united Zimbabwe.
Dindingwi Rinonaka • kgarnet@hot.com
Subject: MATIMADII
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:29:18 • Wedzera volume!
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com
Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots!
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:08:31 • Canada imposes further sanctions on Zimbabwe, includes the deceased
So what is new?
Your enemies ARE EXPECTED to act against you with evil intent.
This is particularly true of the racist European enemies of Africans!
These of course are the same racist and CRIMINAL CANADIANS who have been robbing, raping, murdering, oppressing and repressing the Native Peoples of North America for centuries. So!
NA • n/a
Subject: PUPPETOCRAZY
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:18:28 • Puppetocrazy!
You have just reminded me of the cabaret show by Simon Morley and David Friend, who made their debut at the 1998 Melborne International Comedy Festival, manipulating their genitals into various shapes, objects, and landmarks. I always wondered who would be the first Africans to come up with a similar act. Hilarious.
ZAMBEZI BLONDE • zambeziblonde.com@zol.co.zw
Subject: HUH?
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:11:24 • I KNOW WOMEN LIE ABOUT THEIR AGE, BUT GOOD HEAVENS - I DID NOT KNOW THAT MONICA CHINAMASA IS 103?
SURELY SHE SHOULD HAVE MADE IT INTO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS BY NOW?
I DID NOT KNOW THAT AIRZIM FLIES TO CANADA?
I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE IMPORT ARMS
FROM CANADA?
WHY ARE THEY PICKING ON THE KIDS?
Surely if you want to change the way a nation thinks you should rehabilitate the youngsters who are the future generation of that nation?
EXTRAORDINARY!
Nhai Chief • N/A
Subject: Sanctions
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:58:48 • Chief Negomo, sanctions will affect all Zimbabweans. Thats why people should be careful in voting. These are conditional sanctions, observe rule of law, stop murdering people, torturing people, Zanunising media, ZEC, ZBC, respect human rights, let soldiers live in their barracks without unleashing terror on fellow Zimbabweans, ban the militia. Have any of these been observed by Zanu PF? So why should they be removed? Avoid war with the British, the Americans etc, the very same people whom you want to remove sanctions. Give a Zanu a mike and hear what he says, anti-british, American ritrol, yet we want to engage in them to remove the sanctions. If there is no reform, then sanctions are justifiably in place. MDC has nothing to do with it, and this is understood by the voters. Thats why this rheotric of puppets etc is refusing to hold water. MDC people are affected by snactions, thats why they will never vote for those responsible for sanctions, Zanu PF. If the army and militia decide to chose Zanu PF rather than having sanctions removed, then we all suffer the consequences. Sanctions are justified until Zanu reforms or leaves office. If they dont want, then let the country go down the drain, MDC is not ruling, they will not suffer the consequences.
Puppetocracy • Puppetocracy@puppetocrats.com
Subject: Call me puppet, puppy or pup
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:10:02 • A brand new puppetocracy has taken root in Africa. It is headed by the award winning and proudly puppetrocratic Morgan Tsvangirai. He in turn has his very own puppetocrats in the shape of Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa. This triumvirate is succeeded in a neat pyramid by the rest of the MDC puppetocrats. At the apex of the pyramid sits Tsvangirai valued for his moral, spiritual and intellectual excellence which the whole of the MDC apsires to.
The reasons why Team Bwana (TB NOT Tendai Biti)is queing up to shine Tsvangirai's already gleaming halo are:
Morgan is more intelligent
Morgan is more handsome
Morgan is more decisive
At a time when his own economy is faltering and his citizens are facing grave challenges due to natural disasters Team Bwana is offering billions to save Zimbabwe But only if ...... ....
Morgan is more billions]
Morgan is more trillions
Morgan is more sanctions
Morgan is more hardships
Morgans is more Dazed and Confused
Personally I find Team Bwanas edge of the seat desperation and fixation over Zimbabwe extremely embarrassing. sometimes I just want to crawl into a tight ball and refuse to look him in the eye because I am so embarrassed by his obssession over my country.
April Fool's Day 2008 is memorable for two reasons:
It is the day Team Bwana prematurely celebrated President Robert Mugabes demise and it is also the day that the unelected leader of Botswana ascended the throne.
Chiefnegomo (aka Oliver Mtyambizi) • chiefnegomo@yahoo.com
Subject: ??
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:40:09 • The listing of deceased,incorrect titles and positions is not a mere mistake,but clear evidence to demonstrate how erroneous and injudicious these people are.We have heard of assets freeze for ages now,but we have never heard whose assets been frozen.Its more of a political rhetoric to hide the real issue on the ground,that these sanctions are targeted to the ordinary people of Zimbabwe including the MDC MPs and followers with the exception of Biti and Morgan.Surely the pair are now stinking rich,thanks to their job.The whole opposition in zim is a charade
|
