Mugabe defiant as EU pulls out its observers
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Your support makes all the difference.As the remaining European Union observers pulled out of Zimbabwe yesterday, President Robert Mugabe reacted defiantly to the imposition of sanctions, denouncing them as "organised economic terrorism".
EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to impose sanctions on Mr Mugabe and 19 of his government and military officials. They include a ban on foreign travel to the EU and a freeze on any assets.
The decision was precipitated by Mr Mugabe's decision to expel the head of the EU observers, Pierre Schori, and the Zimbabwean government's refusal to allow foreign journalists into the country to report on the presidential elections, scheduled for 9 and 10 March.
Mr Mugabe's chief spokesman, the Information Minister, Jonathan Moyo, one of the 19 Zimbabweans subject to the travel ban and assets freeze, said the decision was a disgrace and its only aim was to "unseat a legitimately elected government that has decided to defend its national independence and national sovereignty".
He accused European governments of acting to "protect the interests of the white minority". Mr Mugabe was quoted as saying Europeans should be banned from observing all elections in Africa because no Africans were ever invited to monitor European elections.
The Zimbabwe Herald newspaper, controlled by the state, said in an editorial that Europe was a bully that "expected 'little' Zimbabwe to cower before the 'superior white race'".
Tendai Biti, the foreign affairs spokesman of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said the sanctions would do little to foster an improved atmosphere for the election but hailed them as an important signal that the international community would not tolerate political violence. Mr Bit conceded, however, that it would be difficult to trace Mr Mugabe's assets abroad.
South Africa said the sanctions were regrettable, adding that the resulting withdrawal of all EU observers had diminished the chances for a free and fair election. The deputy foreign minister, Aziz Pahad, said the removal of observers would hinder the international effort to create the conditions for Zimbabweans to express their democratic will.
He said: "It's difficult to fathom why the EU would pull out their observers rather than keep them in there to give the Zimbabwean people confidence the international community is around to allow them to vote.
"We are really surprised at this decision, because if there are allegations the elections might not be free and fair, then it is important to ensure as many neutral, objective, impartial observers are in place."
While many analysts said sanctions were the right course of action, they remained pessimistic about their ability to move Mr Mugabe into lifting his siege of terror on his people.
Some fear the restrictions may provoke Mr Mugabe to greater repression. Lovemore Madhuku, a University of Zimbabwe law professor and chairman of Zimbabwe's National Constitutional Assembly, said: "The observers would have been necessary in terms of having Mugabe know that the broader world is still watching him ... The observers would also have helped the EU gain a better appreciation of the situation on the ground."
The Nigerian leader, Olusegen Obasanjo, said the EU's decision was unfortunate but expressed confidence that it would not affect the holding of a free and fair election.
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