WikiLeaks exposes EU sanctions scheme

The revelations put paid to claims by the EU, the US and MDC-T that sanctions are targeted on less than 200 Zanu-PF officials only and do not affect the national economy.
According to the leaked cable, under a sanctions plan code-named “reftel b”, the EU even considered imposing a total investment ban on Zimbabwe.
Apparently, this was after their preferred candidate, MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, failed to win the 2008 presidential elections.

The plan was, however, dropped after realising that it would hurt Bri-tish and American investments in Zimbabwe instead of just hurting the economy and making people turn agai-nst Zanu-PF and its leadership.
Part of the cable, sent after the 2008 harmonised elections, reads:  “The United Kingdom will push for further measures, including an investment ban, to be enacted in September (2008).

“However, the remaining foreign investments in Zimbabwe are British and American, and pursuing an investment ban is difficult.”
According to the cable, the Dutch government then proposed another plan they hoped would help disguise the embargo’s debilitating economic impact.
Holland’s proposal would see European companies stopping business ope-rations in Zimbabwe after claiming an “uneven” business environment.
“For example, governments could use ‘moral suasion’ rather than an investment ban, with Press statements such as ‘it’s inconceivable to do business in Zimbabwe’.”
“Tesco, UK, has stopped buying from Zimbabwe, and Shell is also considering a sale of assets in Zimbabwe,” the cable added.

Tesco is a British-owned supermar-ket chain and stopped buying farm produce from Zimbabwe in 2008 citing political considerations.
Tesco’s withdrawal was soon after the announcement of Presidential run-off election results, which gave President Mugabe a sweep of the polls.
In the same year, British companies BP and Shell indicated they would dispose of their assets in Zimbabwe and have since done so.

Other British firms, including Barclays, were pressured by their government to pull out of Zimbabwe that sa-me year. 
Political analyst Professor Jonathan Moyo said the revelations by the whi-stle blower website were enough confirmation of the West’s sinister and hidden agenda in Zimbabwe.
He said Europe imposed a total inve-stment ban on Zimbabwe and only fell short of formalising it to protect their companies.

There are about 400 British companies still operating in Zimbabwe.
“These revelations put paid to Wes-tern lies that the sanctions were targeted on less than 200 Zanu-PF officials but have been targeting our economy, our country and our people.
“This was to make our people suffer and have them blame Government for their suffering. The Europeans did not pronounce a total investment ban in Zimbabwe, but went about quietly to protect their companies.

“This is why Zanu-PF resolved at its annual conference (last year) to go after their companies if they maintain the sanctions and also coming up with an anti-sanctions petition with two million signatures.

“We are saying no one should benefit from the sanctions including foreign beneficiaries of the embargo, that is the Western companies operating Zimbabwe.
“The sooner the sanctions are remo-ved, the better for everyone,” he said.     
WikiLeaks disclosures of US diplomatic communications have also sho-wn how Washington actively supported Mr Tsvangirai — even though they have little faith in his party’s leadership credentials — just so that they can get rid of Zanu-PF.
The leaks have been a big source of embarrassment for MDC-T, which former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell said would need “massive hand-holding” should it ever get into power.-The Herald

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