Zimbabwe sanctions: Are they justified?

Zimbabwe's senior business leaders and their spouses have been banned from Europe, under extended sanctions from the European Union (EU).

President Robert Mugabe and 19 senior government and military officials are already banned from travelling to the EU. They also had their European assets frozen before the Zimbabwean elections in March.

The EU imposed the ban after the head of its elections observer team was expelled from the country in a row over election violence.

Critics say, however, that the sanctions are not working.

Do you think the sanctions are justified? Should Zimbabwe's political and business leaders be banned from travelling to Europe?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Sanctions are inappropriate and ineffective

Kath, England/ SA

Whilst I firmly believe that Robert Mugabe should be brought to his knees, sanctions are inappropriate and ineffective. Sanctions in South Africa did not cause the end of apartheid; rather, the end of apartheid was due to social changes within the South African population. The white South African voting public voted for the end of apartheid, despite knowing what it would mean for their privileged position.
Kath, England/ SA

Zimbabwe was once a prosperous country, and now look at it. When will Africans realise that the international community is not bothered with colonisation? The institutions want to help Africa and turn it from being a Third World continent into a prosperous one!
D. Walton, UK

As a displaced farmer I can tell you what is going on here. If you think it is only white farmers having a raw deal you are wrong. Anybody opposed to Mugabe has to deal with the consequences. He had 20 years to do something about the land issue and did nothing until it suited him. He has reduced this once beautiful country to an impoverished disaster.
Mandy Zim, Zimbabwe

Africa has shown that it supports the present Zimbabwean government

Athanasius, Harare, Zimbabwe

Zimbabweans should shape their own future. Whites are the ones that the British government want to protect. Africa has shown that it supports the present Zimbabwean government. We suffered during the liberation struggle and the British didn't support us. Now we want our land.
Athanasius, Harare, Zimbabwe

The ruling elite has killed our education system, yet their children receive world class education overseas using our taxes. They must be sent back home so that they can taste the medicine of their fathers.
Seke, Zim

The answer to Zimbabwe lies within Zimbabwe. If the Zimbabwean people believe they have lost the freedoms won from independence then they should deal with the problem themselves.
SP, England

If you're going to do something, do it properly. Stop all European/American imports into the country, freeze all the assets of the so-called leaders.
Chris Oldfield, UK

Mugabe and his government will relish the new sanctions

Harry, Zimbabwe

Know this: Mugabe and his government will relish the new sanctions, they will gloat over how futile they are and the fact that they will make no changes to their lives at all. They will call the EU sanctions racist and disgusting and brand the EU toothless bulldogs. Unfortunately that's what they are, and the people of Zimbabwe will continue to suffer until this man is gone.
Harry, Zimbabwe

Please leave the Zimbabwe leader alone. He is much better than what we have here in Ethiopia or other African country. The western are making all the noise just because the white Zimbabweans are affected. The EU would never have put any sanctions on Zimbabwe if there were no white Zimbabweans in that country.
Borena Selalle, Oromia, Ethiopia

If the EU wants to help the people of Zimbabwe, it should forget about these travel bans and go to the aid of the ordinary poor. The leaders lose nothing if they are banned to travel to EU states. In fact ASIA is sometimes a safer place for these leaders than EU. What EU is doing is just making noise and Mugabe and his cronies care less about the sanctions so long as they have enough to eat and drink.
Papa Amuah, Denmark/Ghana

Let the EU bring sanctions in all forms and colours, but the bottom line remains that they are trying to protect white farmers in Zim. It is nothing to do with justice or good governance.
John Ole Kisimir, Kenya

Zimbabwe could be a prosperous nation

Mitch, UK

I am saddened to read the views of a number of contributors to the debate suggesting that the sanctions against Zimbabwe are purely to support the white minority in the country. It appears to me, from news reports, that Mugabe's tyranny is affecting all Zimbabweans, from all backgrounds. Zimbabwe could be a prosperous nation with a more socialistic view of life, better distribution of wealth etc. Europeans are not only supporting the rich white minority, we are against all forms of tyranny, which results in suffering of millions of innocents.
Mitch, UK

Does anybody really believe that the government will care if the EU ban them? All that gives them is more anti EU firepower. In the end it will be the normal everyday folk who suffer and starve. Sanctions hurt the normal people not the rich and powerful and if they are as corrupt as the EU says then why will they care as long as they have control.
Karen, UK

Although I believe sanctions have not been effective, they are justified. It is ridiculous for some to suggest that these sanctions have caused suffering to the people of Zimbabwe. The suffering has come from none other than the current government. I fear the only solution to topple the tyrant and restore the rule of law, will have to come from the black people of Zimbabwe.
Rico, UK

Having lived in the area for many years I have to say that many of the white farmers have brought the problems on themselves. Their farm employees have been very poorly paid and very little land has been voluntary handed over. Regarding aid, the Mugabe regime are totally corrupt, therefore any aid should be channelled via the international agencies.
Colin, England,

I would rather the EU had tried to aid in resolving the situation

Mel, Zimbabwe

I think that as a people we have come to be content with our leaders. So I would rather the EU had tried to aid in resolving the situation than giving sanctions which seem to the contrary of our cause as a people. Yes, we are tired but how much more shall we play with masks and not realise this is more than one man. Sanctions are not good enough.
Mel, Zimbabwe

As a Zimbabwean I welcome the effort by the EU to help people suffering under president Mugabe. Sanctions are working and we would want to see more pressure on Southern African leaders. These are the people with the capacity to put an end to our suffering . At the same time we expect the opposition to be doing its part, not just sitting and waiting for others to do the dirty work for it. There is a need for the opposition to reorganise itself and confront this government from all angles. There is little the outside world can do without Zimbabweans themselves acting
Mukumbudzi, Zimbabwe

The EU and America's actions against President Mugabe is all nonsense. Had President Mugabe been expelling poor, black Zimbabwean peasants from their land to hand over to big business, we would have not heard of all this fuss and nonsense. I join President Robert Mugabe in turning our nose to the Blairs and the Bushes for their singling out President Mugabe for election violence and corruption, while praising Yoweri Muwseveni in Uganda. All Pan-Africanists stand squarely with President Mugabe.
Biira Pa Lakurabong, Canada

It is not up to other countries to interfere

Richard, US

Zimbabwe is a sovereign nation. It has not invaded another sovereign nation. Its domestic policies are its own business. Evidently Mugabe has enough support or he would not be in his position. The Zimbabweans have to work this out among themselves. How else will they ever learn how to govern, the art of compromise, solidarity as a people, the priorities of education and sacrifice for a better future? It is not up to other countries to interfere in the internal affairs of others regardless of how repellent we find them.
Richard, US

Dealing out sanctions is like treating the symptoms but not getting to the cause. It may put them in an unpopular light but whether it has the desired results is questionable. Time will tell. It's a pity so much havoc is created by one man's rule, hardly the democratic way.
Lora M, Canada

Zimbabweans are a decent, polite and well organised people who are lead by corrupt fools. Zimbabweans have been denied the option of voting out their bad government and can only now await their fate. It is time for Mr Mugabe to go. The foreign governments should not entertain him any longer - he is simply a bad person.
JR, Mozambique

Innocent people suffer more from the consequences

Igonikon Jack, USA

The EU could draw some lessons about blanket sanctions from the UN's sanctions against Libya and Iraq. The poor, innocent people suffer more from the consequences. Patience is required in resolving the Zimbabwean problem. Time is running out against the Mugabe regime. The Zimbabwean people will someday get the democratically elected government they deserve, which will bolster foreign investors' confidence and free the country from economic strangulation.
Igonikon Jack, USA

Being banned from Europe means less to Africans than the EU can hope for. Europe is not our Mecca. These petulant actions designed to punish Mugabe for his independence can only strengthen and unite us.
George Dash, Canada

These drastic measures could have been avoided if Mr Mugabe had worked with the white farmers years ago. Together they could have come to an arrangement where poor people received land and were given the opportunity to learn farming skills. Mr Mugabe had the opportunity to be seen as a respected African statesman such as Nelson Mandela. Instead he will condemn his own people to a slow death. These are not the actions of a sound mind.
Andrew Carnegie, UK

Most of these guys rarely stay in Zimbabwe. They should also be banned from travelling to Zimbabwe from their numerous foreign trips.
Tinashe, Zimbabwe

We must be careful with the backlash

Learnmore Moyo , USA/Zimbabwe

The sanctions already in place were good enough. I think we must be careful with the backlash. The more we insist on attacking Mugabe, the higher the number of people keen to listen to his argument.
Learnmore Moyo , USA/Zimbabwe

Corruption, mass starvation, rigged elections, torture and terror are everyday phenomenon all over the world. In some places even with sanction of the UK, USA, etc, of course as long as the effects are not visited on Britons or Americans. The Zimbabwean situation is nothing new. The only constant is the supposed victim - WHITE PEOPLE.
Sydney, Zimbabwe

EU sanctions are no more than an irritation to Mugabe and his cronies. I would like to see sanctions on the African leaders who continue to support him. In the end the world is watching another tragedy that could be avoided if South Africa really put pressure on Mugabe.
Graham H Crouch, Zimbabwean exile, UK

The EU seems very concerned about Zimbabwe. But situations like Zimbabwe are widespread all over Africa especially in the Horn. Why doesn't the EU apply the same policy all over? Do not single out Zimbabwe.
Tullu Oromo, Minneapolis, USA

The current sanctions are at best symbolic, and at worst make the EU a laughing stock

David, UK

As a native Zimbabwean, I have been appalled by the inaction of the international community while conditions for the average Zimbabwean deteriorate immeasurably. The current sanctions are at best symbolic, and at worst make the EU a laughing stock. Any sanctions imposed against despots are better than nothing. Sanctions should be widened to cover all key political and business figures that have played a direct or implicit role in the violation of human rights.
David, UK

Sanctions are already in existence with shortages of everything from foreign currency to food and even soft drinks. But they are not justified. Opposition parties in Zimbabwe should not ask the West to impose sanctions on the country in order to influence public opinion - they should simply offer better solutions. We cannot depend on aid forever and if we ask others to destroy our economy who will rebuild it for us?
Tendyai, Zimbabwe

It is self-inflicted

Jeff, UK

The sanctions are completely justified. It is self-inflicted as Zimbabwe's leaders are part of one of the most corrupt political regimes in the world. These men and women fill their own pockets before passing on world aid to the rest of their beleaguered citizens. We should not be giving these so-called leaders any monetary aid.
Jeff, UK

I believe these sanctions are simply put in place to stamp out or discourage any move that colonised countries might try to put in place to reverse the deeds of British colonialism. It's all about economic power.
Tchacho, USA

These sanctions are not working, and they never will. Zimbabweans will survive any British machinations to reverse our sovereignty. I thought by now that they would have seen that all their tricks have failed. Zimbabweans will carry on with the land reform programme.
Charles Mutama, Zimbabwe

I take it Mr Mutama is fairly well off, unlike many of his countrymen who are suffering from starvation because of the half baked plans of Mugabe and his cronies. To undertake radical land reform when there is not only a drought but also when it is midway through the planting cycle is criminal, and shows no regard for the people. The other factor is that the farmland is going to be given to subsistence farmers so the productivity of the country will also fall. If Mugabe leaves Zimbabwe for any reason he should be arrested for crimes against humanity.
Charles, UK

This regime must be stopped before the world wakes up to another African humanitarian disaster

Dan, UK

Charles: Are the Zimbabweans that are carrying the "land reform programme" the same ones that are on the brink of starvation and famine? I think not, which is why this corrupt regime must be stopped in its tracks before the world wakes up to yet another African humanitarian disaster.
Dan, UK

Mr Mutama, the question is not one of British machinations to reverse Zimbabwean sovereignty, rather an international effort to stop a dictator from running a once prosperous country into the ground.
D Walton, UK

Sadly, as long as people like Charles Mutama swallow the rubbish being put out by the Mugabe regime, there is little hope of any sanctions working. Perhaps Mr Mutama should realise that the actions of the international community are concerned with ridding his country of its self-serving leader, and all his corrupt hangers-on, as opposed to attempting to reassert some form of 19th century colonialism. Mind you, once most of the population of Zimbabwe is starving I am sure the good comrades will more than welcome all the 'foreign aid' to be had from their old 'oppressors'.
Noel Whitman, UK

Enough is enough for the poor people of that country

Jennifer, UK/Zimbabwe

Yes, they should be banned from entering Europe. The strictest sanctions should be put on Zimbabwe- enough is enough for the poor people of that country. How much longer are the EU and others going to allow Mugabe to continue to treat people, black and white, the way he is.
Jennifer, UK/Zimbabwe

If we had sanctions against South Africa over the evils of apartheid, why shouldn't we have them against Zimbabwe for corruption, mass starvation, rigged elections, torture and terror?
KT, UK