ZUJ slams EU sanctions on Zim

sanctions against six Zimbabwean journalists.
The embargo, the union said, was not justified.
ZUJ secretary-general Foster Dongozi said the embargo was not consistent with the Global Political Agreement that saw the inception of the inclusive Government constituted by Zanu-PF and the MDC formations.
The journalists on EU sanctions list are Zimpapers editor-in-chief Pikirayi Deketeke, The Herald deputy editor Caesar Zvayi, Sunday Mail assistant editor Munyaradzi Huni, ZBC chief correspondent Reuben Barwe and diplomatic correspondent Judith Makwanya, and freelancer Musorowegomo Mkhosi.
Yesterday, Dongozi said the GPA did not condone the imposition of sanctions and urged all parties to denounce them.
“The fact that all political parties are in agreement of the need to remove sanctions means they should be removed,” said Dongozi.
“There is need to implement the GPA, and it does not only relate to sanctions but to media reforms, national healing and constitution making.
“Some political players were removed from sanctions and we believe journalists should also be removed,” he said.
ZUJ vice president Michael Chideme accu-sed the EU of being hypocritical by preaching Press freedom while sanctioning journalists for political reasons.
“There should be multiplicity of views. The journalists are expressing views that have a market in Zimbabwe and the EU is trying to make all journalists in Zimbabwe write only what the West wants.
“That is not media freedom.”
He said journalists should not feel intimidated and instead continue doing their job without fear of what the West might do.