EU allows visit by Mugabe henchman despite sanctions

European Union foreign ministers allowed one of President Robert Mugabe's most notorious henchmen to visit France last week, bypassing the EU's own travel ban on Zimbawe's ruling elite because of the regime's gross human rights violations.

Zimbabwe's Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri, left Harare and travelled to France this week to attend a two-day meeting of Interpol's executive committee in Lyon. The visit came just a week after President Mugabe and his officials boasted that EU sanctions were "ineffectual" after they travelled to the United States via France.

Last night, Annabelle Hughes, the director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Trust, said the foreign ministers' decision was "an example of how the EU is all bark and not bite".

"He personally confiscated one of the biggest commercial farms in the country recently and promulgates human rights abuses, violence, and illegal actions" she said.

Mr Chihuri's attendance at an Interpol meeting on money laundering was seen as ironic given the accusations that Mr Mugabe's regime's financial assets abroad have been frozen. Donald Anderson, the chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs select committee, said he was "appalled by the EU's decision".

Mr Chihuri, one of the prime movers in the campaign of violence against the Zimbabwe opposition, white farmers and the media, topped a list of 19 senior Mugabe cronies covered by a visa ban when the EU imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe in February. The sanctions were imposed after Mr Mugabe's widely condemned interference with the presidential election campaign and expulsion of the EU's chief election observer.

Mr Chihuri has recently intensified the campaign of harassment of the independent media in Zimbabwe ordering the arrest of journalists he accuses of publishing "false news".

In Lyon he stayed at the four star Sofitel Bellecour hotel, checking out on Thursday. Interpol confirmed last night that he attended the meeting as a vice president of the Interpol executive. There was also criticism of John Abbott, the head of NCIS (national criminal intelligence service), who attended on Britain's behalf. Critics said he should have boycotted the meeting.

Last night foreign office sources confirmed that Britain and other EU member states were consulted by France and agreed that Mr Chihuri should be given permission to attend the meeting in his capacity as Africa representative. Officials defended the decision on the grounds that EU member states have the option of waiving the travel ban if they believe a journey is justified on the grounds of attending meetings of international bodies.

A spokesman said: "Mr Chihuri's case was discussed through contacts between the capitals. France is also bound by the Interpol treaty."

A statement from the French embassy in London said Mr Chihuri was admitted because the Interpol treaty "forces France to welcome members of the executive committee of the organisation (Interpol)". But questions are being raised as to why three months after the EU included him on its travel ban, he remains vice president of the world police intelligence organisation.

Mr Chihuri is seen in Zimbabwe as an enforcer for Mr Mugabe. He stands accused of running the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on political lines by selectively applying the law against those identified as enemies of the President, including white landowners, members of the opposition and the independent media.