§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take harsher measures against the Zimbabwe Government. [159086]
§ Mr. MullinWe agree on the need for tough measures against the Mugabe Government. With our strong support, the European Union decided on 19 February to increase the number of senior Zimbabwean figures on its travel ban and assets freeze from 79 to 95 and to extend those measures for a further 12 months. The measures are specifically targeted on the ZANU-PF leadership and others with direct responsibility for human rights abuses, eroding press freedoms, and harassing civil society.
We do not want to impose harsher measures such as trade and economic sanctions which would hurt the Zimbabwean people. They are already suffering enough as a result of ZANU-PF's ruinous policies.