Sanctions unhelpful: ICG

THE global think tank, International Crisis Group, has dismissed the effectiveness of sanctions as a helpful tool in effecting change in Zimbabwe.

A report published by the group Wednesday entitled, “Ending Zimbabwe's Nightmare: A Possible Way Forward” concluded that sanctions imposed by the West and other forms of pressure are “unlikely to be productive in the absence of a new approach.”

The report comes on the heels of an announcement by Australia that it has imposed sanctions on four companies and 75 individuals linked to the Government of Zimbabwe.

The group also dismissed the effectiveness of military intervention to resolve the crisis in the country.

“Despite the calls increasingly being made for outright military intervention to resolve the crisis, this seems a wholly unrealistic option,” said the report adding that “regional resistance to any such course remains intense.”

The group suggested that a transitional administration in Zimbabwe was required in the country and should not be headed by President Mugabe or Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC.

The call by ICG reflects an idea brooked by the leader of the Mavambo Project and former Finance Minister, Dr. Simba Makoni.

In the run-up to the run-off election of June 27, Dr. Makoni advised the MDC leader to negotiate a transitional government to rule the country for five years, rather than contest the run-off election – a suggestion dismissed by the Zanu PF party.

Sanctions against the ex-Finance Minister were lifted by the EU last week.

The report argued that the Global Political Agreement signed by Zanu PF and MDC on September 15 is unlikely to work because of the suspicion between the two parties. The reports further says the establishment of two power-centres suggested in the Agreement was unworkable giving the history of the relationship between the two parties.

“Even if the parties find a compromise on ministry allocation and related issues, the creation of two power centres by the GPA suggest that, in the context of their intense mutual distrust, political paralysis would prevent serious action to address the country’s problems,” read the report.

The report suggested that during the transitional period donors should “commit to give the transitional administration substantial support and, as the process consolidates, lift (the) sanctions.”

“The UN, AU, and SADC to identify senior officials to assist the transitional government and monitor cooperation,” added the report.