Zimbabwe -- Ailing Stamps denied UK visa

Zimbabwe Standard ^ | August 10, 2002 | Chengetai Zvauya

[Clive]

DR Timothy Stamps, the ailing minister of health and child welfare, has been denied permission to go to the United Kingdom to seek medical treatment, as the European Union tightens biting travel sanctions imposed on President Mugabe and his associates a few months ago.

The Standard is informed that Stamps, the Welsh born minister who has served in Mugabe’s cabinet for over a decade, had applied for a visa to enter UK for specialist medical treatment but his application was turned down two weeks ago by the British High Commission in Harare.

Stamps’ name appears on the list of specified persons who have been blacklisted by the EU and the US for being associated with President Mugabe’s regime, accused of gross abuse of human rights and “stealing” a presidential election.

Stamps suffered a stroke last year and has failed to resume his ministerial duties, leaving his deputy David Parirenyatwa running the ministry.

A well placed source told The Standard that Stamps had applied for a visa to enter the UK for specialist treatment but was not successful.

"There are a number of people who are blacklisted who are trying to find out if the sanctions are for real and are being turned away at the various embassies. So it is not surprising that Stamps was barred entry into the UK," said the source.

Contacted for comment, British deputy high commissioner, Diane Corner, refused to comment on the issue and referred this paper to the embassy’s spokesperson, Sophie Honey, who was not available at the time of going to the press. "I am aware of the list of the specified people but I refer you to our press officer," said Corner.

Stamps’ wife, Cindy, refused to speak to The Standard when approached for comment. Two weeks ago, Zanu PF deputy secretary for the disabled, Joshua Malinga, was sent back home while in transit to New York.

Foreign affairs minister, Stan Mudenge, was also barred from attending his daughter’s wedding in Germany two months ago.

Four Zanu PF women legislators, including deputy speaker of parliament, Edna Madzongwe, were also denied visas to attend a parliamentary workshop in Sweden recently.

[Clive]

The sanctions imposed by the US are more strict. They also bind spouses and children of the targetted individuals

They also bind businesmen and others who benefit from or support the Zanu PF government.

Under the US sanctions, a general's spouse and the Anglican Bishop of Harare has been denied a visa and children of targetted individuals were prevented from returning to their US schools.

Yet the Zim government has reacted most strongly to the imposition by the UK of the lesser sanctions.

[wretchard]

"The sanctions imposed by the US are more strict. They also bind spouses and children of the targetted individuals ... Yet the Zim government has reacted most strongly to the imposition by the UK of the lesser sanctions."

Robert Mugabe may be crazy, but he isn't stupid. A wrathful America is terrifying. The silence you hear is the sound of respect.