Zimbabwe hits out at "misinformed" Canadian sanctions move

Sep 6, 2008, 11:07 GMT

Harare - The Harare government Saturday dismissed the decision by Canada to impose targeted sanctions as 'misinformed and unfortunate', saying it will further hit ordinary Zimbabweans.

On Friday Canadian Foreign Minister David Emerson announced that his country had imposed targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe saying it was a protest against 'intimidation and state-sponsored violence' against opposition supporters by President Robert Mugabe's government.

The Canadian government said it was banning arms exports, freezing the assets of top Zimbabwean officials and banning Zimbabwean aircraft from its airspace or landing in Canada.

Zimbabwe Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, said: 'It is clear where they are taking a cue from. It is an unfortunate decision and an unjustifiable action. There is no opposition that is being intimidated. We are negotiating with the opposition that Canada claims to be saying is being intimidated.'

It was an apparent reference to the power-sharing talks between the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ruling Zanu PF party to which Chinamasa belongs.

The MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he will not agree to any settlement with Mugabe unless it gives him the authority to govern Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in a March 29 election but fell short of enough votes to avoid a June 27 run-off election. Mugabe won the second round that Tsvangirai pulled out citing massive violence and intimidation against his supporters. The opposition claimed that Zanu PF militia killed about 100 of its supporters between the two elections.

The run-off was not recognized by many countries around the world and attracted sanctions from Western countries - such as the EU and the US whose support is pivotal for reviving Zimbabwe's economy that is on a free-flow.

Responding to the imposition of sanctions by Canada, Nelson Chamisa the MDC spokesperson said: 'This is strictly a matter between the two (those targeted by the sanctions and Canada), but we can comment in detail further only after digesting the statement by Canada.'