Mugabe and cenbank chief could face U.N. sanctions

Wed Jul 2, 2008 11:04pm BST
[-] Text [+]

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his central bank chief are among those who, under a U.S.-drafted resolution, would face U.N. asset freezes and travel bans over last week's widely criticized election.

According to an annex to the latest version of the draft, obtained by Reuters on Wednesday, Mugabe is among 12 people who would face U.N. sanctions because he is the "Head of Government responsible for activities that seriously undermine democracy, repress human rights and disrespect the rule of law."

Central Bank Governor Gideon Gono would also face sanctions because he is "responsible for funding repressive state policies," the text says.

Mugabe won re-election in the June 27 run-off ballot after Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), pulled out of the voting because of attacks on his supporters. Tsvangirai had won a first-round vote on March 29.

Also on the sanctions list are the army's chief commander, Gen. Constantine Chiwenga, whom the MDC says coordinated Mugabe's campaign for the election, which African and world leaders condemned as illegitimate.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, who heads the rural housing and social amenities ministry, is also named in the annex, as is Happyton Bonyongwe, Zimbabwe's head of intelligence.

The list includes four other members of the government -- George Charamba, Patrick Chinamasa, David Parirenyatwa and Didymus Mutasa -- as well as three other security officials, Augustine Chihuri, Perence Shiri and Paradzi Zimondi.

The draft text, which has been informally circulated to several U.N. Security Council members and was obtained in full by Reuters, also calls for an arms embargo against Zimbabwe.  Continued...

 
by Name by Symbol