FACTBOX-Sanctions on Zimbabwe

Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:49am EDT

June 24 (Reuters) - Below are details of sanctions and restrictions in place against Zimbabwe and other measures that could be considered.



VISA BANS AND ASSET FREEZES:

-- The European Union imposed a visa ban on Mugabe and 19 of his top officials in 2002 because of the way Zimbabwe treated observers sent to monitor presidential elections.

-- That has now been expanded to more than 100 of Mugabe's closest aides and family.

-- The European Union has also frozen the overseas assets of the same list of Zimbabweans who are subject to its visa ban.

-- The United States first imposed sanctions in March 2003 and later widened them to apply to a total of about 250 people accused of undermining democracy.

-- The U.S. sanctions also bar Americans from engaging in any transactions or dealings with them.

ARMS EMBARGOES:

-- The European Union has an embargo on the sale and supply of arms and technical advice and of equipment which could be used for internal repression in Zimbabwe.

-- The embargo also prohibits technical and financial assistance related to military activities.

-- The United States has a ban on transfers of defence items and services, and a suspension of non-humanitarian government-to-government assistance.

-- The United States welcomed an idea from Britain for a full arms embargo.

-- A shipment of Chinese arms bound for Zimbabwe was recalled in April after port workers in the region refused to unload it and Western countries urged a stop to arms supplies.



ISOLATION:

-- The Commonwealth group of mainly former British colonies suspended Zimbabwe in early 2002 on the grounds that Mugabe had rigged his re-election and persecuted his opponents.

-- Zimbabwe formally withdrew from the 54-nation group in 2003 after the suspension was extended indefinitely.

-- The International Monetary Fund suspended technical assistance to Zimbabwe in 2002 over its failure to clear arrears and address its dire economic and social crisis.

-- It has averted expulsion by making small payments towards clearing arrears.



SPORT:

-- There has been no formal united action against Zimbabwe by cricketing authorities but a 2007 tour of Zimbabwe by Australia was cancelled on the orders of Australia's government.

-- Cricket South Africa, which had been one of Zimbabwe's strongest backers, suspended domestic agreements with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union this week.

-- Britain said Zimbabwe's planned cricket tour of England next year would be "unwelcome" given the situation in the country.



POSSIBLE MEASURES:

-- Western countries, including European Union states and Australia, are looking at ways to expand their existing sanctions.

-- Britain has suggested financial sanctions and possible travel sanctions against the foreign studies of children of the members of Mugabe's inner circle.

-- So far sanctions have targeted Zimbabwe's elite rather than the country as a whole. Few countries would back measures that could mean more pain for ordinary Zimbabweans.

-- Former British minister for Africa Peter Hain has recommended that South Africa cut power supplies to Zimbabwe.

Sources: Reuters/EU//www.state.gov








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