LUXEMBOURG - European Union foreign ministers on Monday widened a travel ban on Zimbabweans deemed responsible for the country’s ‘rapidly deteriorating human rights, political and economic situation.’ In a statement issued during a meeting in Luxembourg, the ministers condemned ‘the acts of violent expression against the opposition’ and called for all sides in the Zimbabwean hostilities to stop the violence.
| There, that oughta do it. |
The fresh names on the visa ban list belong to people deemed responsible for a recent crackdown on opponents to President Robert MugabeÂ’s regime, according to the statement, which did not list the individual names that had been added. The ban currently covers some 130 people, including Mugabe, his wife, current and former cabinet members and leaders of his ruling Zanu-PF party.
| Worked well, too, you can see how the EU modulated their behavior. |
The foreign ministers on Monday emphasised however that the measures were ‘exclusively aimed at those leading figures responsible for Zimbabwe’s crisis of governance and abuses of human rights,’ not at the Zimbabwean people. ‘The EU, reaffirming its solidarity with the Zimbabwe people, will continue its contribution to operations of humanitarian nature and projects which are in direct support of the population,’ the ministers said.
| "We'll have a dinner in your honor." |
EU funding activities to the Zimbabwean people last year amounted to 193 million euros. |