Zimbabwe: U.S. sanctions 'racist'

CNN Asia | 3.8.03

[Enemy Of The State]

HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) -- A senior Zimbabwean official condemned on Saturday a U.S. decision to impose sanctions on the leadership as part of a "white racist" attack on a government he said was fighting for the interests of its black majority.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and 76 other high-ranking government officials, accusing them of undermining democracy in the impoverished southern African country.

Bush, following the lead of the European Union, issued an executive order freezing their assets and barring Americans from engaging in any transactions or dealings with them.

The Zimbabwean official said the new sanctions were part of a well-coordinated attack on Mugabe by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who he said was angry over Mugabe's seizures of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe, a former British colony.

"All these sanctions being imposed on us are unjustified because they are part of a racist campaign against our land reform programme," said the official, who declined to be named.

"This is not about democracy, human rights or about any concern for the welfare of blacks. This is about our land and heritage," he told Reuters.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) welcomed the U.S. sanctions, saying they represented a principled stand against tyranny.

Mugabe has been under fire from the West over the alleged rigging of an election last year and the persecution of political foes, as well as the seizure of white-owned farms for redistribution to landless blacks.

The United States, the Commonwealth and the European Union, encouraged by rights groups, have all imposed some travel, aid and economic sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Blair has been particularly critical of Mugabe, leading opposition to the Zimbabwean government in the European Union.

In a statement on Friday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the situation in Zimbabwe "endangers the southern African region" and threatens to undermine democratic reforms throughout the continent.

The White House stressed that the sanctions were not aimed at the people of Zimbabwe, and that it was "working diligently" with its international partners to ensure that adequate food supplies are made available to Zimbabweans in need.

MDC spokesman Paul Themba-Nyathi said "We welcome these new sanctions heartily because they are going to send a clear and unequivocal message to Mugabe and his cronies that decent governments are not going to tolerate his tyranny."

"It is a message that a government that tortures its own people as a matter of course must suffer serious sanctions, and be isolated," he told Reuters.

In February, the EU renewed targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his close associates for one year. The measures include a visa ban, an arms embargo and a freeze on the assets of senior government officials.

Last month Mugabe launched a blistering attack on Bush and Blair, branding them imperialists who wanted to impose a new form of colonialism on developing countries.

[Enemy Of The State]

"A senior Zimbabwean official condemned on Saturday a U.S. decision to impose sanctions on the leadership as part of a "white racist" attack on a government he said was fighting for the interests of its black majority."

Oh yes, the same ol line about the white man always trying to keep the black man down.

Get a life! Dont these morons know that we are used to such empty accusations from the likes of Jessie "free-ride" Jackson and Al "not so sharp" Sharpton?

If they consider our sanctions to be racist...what do they call taking away farms from white folks and giving it to black squatters that have no idea how to efficiently produce anything from the land they have siezed?

[Slyfox]

A race card from the country who only shuffles from the race deck?

Last month Mugabe launched a blistering attack on Bush and Blair, branding them imperialists who wanted to impose a new form of colonialism on developing countries.

New form of colonialism? As opposed to the new-fangled version Mugabe is employing in right now?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

They are incredibly naive, thinking that they can attack us on racial issues.

They have destroyed their own constitution, threatened basic rights, and believe that the world will not react. They care nothing for the food crisis, and are willing to starve the black population, along with the white.

We cannot just throw food to the masses in Zimbabwe. That is exactly what Mugabe wants. We must act.

[Mister Baredog]

Mugabe has been under fire from the West over the alleged rigging of an election last year and the persecution of political foes, as well as the seizure of white-owned farms for redistribution to landless blacks

Maybe they could get the UN to protect them from the evil USA, after all this monster was wining and dining with Chirac last week in Paris

[SunStar]

A senior Zimbabwean official condemned on Saturday a U.S. decision to impose sanctions on the leadership as part of a "white racist" attack on a government he said was fighting for the interests of its black majority.

Pot. Kettle. Black. LOL

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[RightWhale]

Where do these people get these foolish ideas. Everybody knows it's about the oil.

[vetvetdoug]

Those that are the most racist are the first to scream Racism. It works here in the US, it should work worldwide.

[Ohioan]

This is not the only thread on this. See:

Zimbabwe official

William Flax