Peter Hain Calls For Stronger Sanctions On Zimbabwe
There are calls in the British Parliament for the imposition of tougher sanctions on Zimbabwe for human rights abuses.
The call was made by British MP and former anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain.
Speaking in the British Parliament on Wednesday, Hain, a former Labour cabinet minister, called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to impose new sanctions on key Zimbabwean ministers and security chiefs.
“In Zimbabwe, three women have recently been abducted and tortured: opposition MP and former Canon Collins Scholar Joanah Mamombe, together with Netsai Marowa and Cecilia Chepiri,” Hain said.
“On July 20, highly respected journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested and denied bail for supporting an anti-corruption protest and faces 10 years in jail. Opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume was arrested and youth leader Takunda Madzana abducted and tortured by state security agents on July 26.
“As well as rampant corruption, there is a pattern of ongoing human rights violations under cover of the Covid-19 crackdown. Can the government update its sanctions to cover more Zimbabwe ministers and security chiefs?” he asked.
Hain’s call for stronger sanctions against Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF government comes at a time when security forces have launched a crackdown on anti-corruption protest organisers.
The protests are planned for Friday 31 July.
Opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin’ono, whose arrests Hain cited as reasons for beefing up sanctions, were both involved in the organisation of the protest.
The duo has been charged with incitement to commit public violence and denied bail, which prevents them participating in the protest.
The recent dusk to dawn curfew and tightening of the covid-19 lockdown regulations by Mnangagwa, is viewed by opponents as a measure to stifle the July 31 demonstration.
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