Tougher sanctions if you rig polls, Mugabe told

Date: 03/02/05

Robert Mugabe's government could face stiffer sanctions if upcoming elections are not free and fair, under proposals currently being discussed by member states.

Diplomats are set to agree to roll over current sanctions for another year and review the sanctions regime after March's parliamentary polls.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says that its preparations have been marred by government-sponsored intimidation and it is not yet certain to contest the vote.

The EU's review could see an extension of current visa bans and assets freezes on leading members of Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

The sanctions, in place since 2002, could also be toughened to close loopholes.

Currently officials from the ruling Zanu-PF party are exempt from visa bans if they are travelling for EU-Africa meetings.

But the EU's approach has been described as "limp wristed" by some.

Geoffrey Van Orden, the vice-chairman of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, has called for any new measures to be made explicit before the elections in a bid to exert maximum pressure on the ruling party.

"We have not sent a clear message," he said, describing loopholes as "a lack of political will dressed up as legal obligations".

A decision on sanctions on Zimbabwe is to be reached by 20 February.

Anticipation of an EU decision on sanctions on Zimbabwe, to be reached by 20 February 2005. The sanctions could be reviewed after Zimbabwe's Parliamentary elections in March 2005, depending on the regularity of the vote.

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