 A crony of President Robert Mugabe who was banned from entering the European Union under sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwean leadership was in Brussels yesterday after evading the travel ban. Edward Chindori-Chininga, a former government minister and MP for Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, is one of more than 100 regime figures named on a visa ban watch list. But he entered Belgium after apparently duping the Belgian authorities and flying to the city from Harare via Gatwick airport. The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday that Mr Chindori-Chininga, 52, was spotted by opposition and human rights activists boarding an Air Zimbabwe flight in Harare on Sunday.
 Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, confirmed to the Commons yesterday that the former minister had arrived in Brussels after being helped by an "error" by the Belgian authorities.This "error" appeared to show how easy it is for determined officials linked to Mr Mugabe's regime to flout EU sanctions.  Belgian officials said yesterday that a man who "seems to be" Mr Chindori-Chininga applied for a visa at a Belgian consulate in South Africa under the shortened name of Edward Chininga. "He received a visa in Johannesburg. His name was Chininga, so when we made checks, his name did not appear on the list," said a Belgian foreign ministry official.| "We looked an' evr'thin'! Well, mostly." |
European Commission officials said yesterday that action to investigate or deport Mr Chindori-Chininga must be taken by the Belgian authorities. "The commission would like the sanctions to be applied," said a spokesman.
Nelson Chamisa, an MP in the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, was badly beaten by government-backed thugs at Harare airport as he tried to travel to a meeting of EU, African, Caribbean and Pacific MPs in Brussels, which opened yesterday. Zanu-PF delegates were permitted to attend the meeting. But it was unclear last night why Mr Chindori-Chininga, who was not on the guest list for the meeting, was visiting Brussels.
Glenys Kinnock, the MEP and chairman of the meeting, said she regretted that the Zanu-PF delegation was allowed to enter Europe. "Early action should have been taken to prevent this situation," she said. "I hope the EU will make it clear that the delegation must leave at the earliest opportunity." Mrs Beckett faced demands yesterday that Britain take out tougher sanctions against Mr Mugabe's regime after brutal attacks on political opponents including the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
She told the House of Commons: "One of those who travelled to the meeting in Brussels was indeed on the banned list but his visa was issued in error by, I believe, the Belgian government." She dismissed suggestions that a visa had been issued by Britain for an individual to travel through London. But the shadow foreign secretary, William Hague, said the issue of the mistake highlighted the fact that the EU could not "muster the consistency and courage" to enforce current measures against Harare. He asked: "Is it not now time for the EU to agree and enforce additional asset freezes and visa bans on members of the Mugabe regime?" Mrs Beckett replied: "The government of Belgium has both apologised for the error and withdrawn the visa." Mr Chindori-Chininga is believed to be a regular visitor to France despite the EU travel sanctions. |