Australia to delist 82

viewed with mixed feelings by political analysts. Some argued that the move was an attempt by Western powers to sow seeds of division among Zimbabweans while others felt it showed a policy shift by the West towards Zimbabwe.
Names of those to be removed from the list were not immediately available yesterday.

But some online newspapers quoted Canberra’s acting Foreign Minister Dr Craig Emmerson claiming that the inclusive Government had ushered in a new era.
He said the people to be removed from the list were no longer a threat to restoration of democracy in the country.
“Australia’s autonomous sanctions regime against Zimbabwe remains one of the world’s toughest,” he said.

“We will continue to uphold this until there is further progress towards democracy and respect for the rule of law in Zimbabwe.”

He said his government would maintain travel and financial sanctions against the remaining 153 individuals and four companies.
Dr Emmerson said Australia wanted to see what he referred to as a “freer, fairer and more democratic Zimbabwe”.
He described Australia as Zimbabwe’s third largest bilateral donor. Australia imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe in October 2002. It removed 17 people from the sanctions list in August last year.

The move by the Australian government followed a similar position by the European Union, which removed 51 people and 20 companies from its sanctions list last month.
A lecturer at the Midlands State University Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri dismissed the move by the Australian Government saying the embargo should be lifted in totality.
“As Zimbabweans we should not be bothered by these externally induced rewards designed to divide us.

“What measure did they use to say this person is no longer a threat to democracy?
“They want to bring suspicion among us to say those who were removed on the list have subscribed to their interest. Let us ignore them until every person is delisted,” he said.
Political scientist Professor John Makumbe said: “Definitely there is a policy shift. If you look, the removal of people on the sanctions list is not complete because they are leaving some individuals and other entities which is a way of saying Zimbabwe has not yet come to a normal situation.

“There are still some reforms that need to be implemented before they entirely lift the sanctions. It is a carrot and stick situation where the West is dangling a carrot to persuade Zimbabwe to do what is right.”

Prof Makumbe said the removal of some people on the sanctions list was a positive move that Government should recognise in its quest to normalise relations with the West.