Southern African leaders call for end to sanctions against Zimbabwe

September 13th, 2009 EU: Sanctions targeting Mugabe won't be liftedHARARE, Zimbabwe — The European Union said Sunday it will not remove sanctions targeting longtime President Robert Mugabe and his loyalists or resume development aid until more is done to implement a year-old power-sharing agreement and restore human rights. Winding up the first visit by a high-level EU delegation since 2002, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel de Gucht said sharp differences remained between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, over their coalition agreement signed Sept.

September 11th, 2009 Mugabe lashes out at West on eve of EU visitHARARE, Zimbabwe — Hours before the first EU visit to Zimbabwe in eight years, President Robert Mugabe accused the West on Friday of wanting to recolonize his impoverished African nation. Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from Britain nearly three decades ago, called Western nations "neocolonialists" who can "never be our friends." "They still want our land," he told the youth wing of his ZANU-PF party.

September 3rd, 2009 U.S lawmakers support Zimbabwe's unity governmentHARARE, Zimbabwe — The largest delegation of U.S. lawmakers to visit Zimbabwe in a decade is calling on the country's leaders to ensure the success of the unity government.

August 21st, 2009 Zimbabwe's PM urges end to doctors strikeHARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe's prime minister is urging striking doctors to return to work. Morgan Tsvangirai made the call in a speech to the Zimbabwe Medical Association Friday.

June 12th, 2009 Zimbabwe PM seeks US support in meeting with ObamaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet Friday with Zimbabwe's prime minister. Morgan Tsvangirai (SVAHNG'-ur-eye) is in Washington to ask the U.S.

June 12th, 2009 Zimbabwe appeals for more investmentCAPE TOWN, South Africa — Zimbabwe's political and business leaders made an impassioned appeal for an end to sanctions and more international investment Friday, hours ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Barack Obama. "Sanctions in this juncture in our history are meaningless," said Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

June 9th, 2009 Obama to welcome Zimbabwe's prime ministerWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will welcome the prime minister of Zimbabwe to the White House on Friday. The White House said Monday that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (SVAHNG'-ur-eye) will meet with Obama in the Oval Office to discuss how they can create a stable democratic future for Zimbabwe.

April 9th, 2009 HARARE - The US ambassador to Zimbabwe Wednesday warned of new sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and senior members of his party unless they show willingness to reform. In an interview with journalists in Harare, ambassador James McGee said current US sanctions against Mugabe and senior members of his party would remain in place 'until we see some positive movement'.

March 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US plans to keep sanctions in place on Zimbabwe until President Robert Mugabe ends political repression in the troubled African country, the State Department said Thursday. Mugabe must release political prisoners, end violence and intimidation against dissidents, and earnestly commit to share power under the agreement with opposition leaders reached earlier this year, the State Department's acting deputy spokesman, Gordon Duguid, said.

February 23rd, 2009 AUCKLAND - The New Zealand government is unlikely to send its cricket team to Zimbabwe for the series in July. Prime Minister John Key said that sending the team to politically unstable Zimbabwe will be a risk.

February 10th, 2009 HARARE - Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, was sworn in Wednesday as prime minister in a unity government. Tsvangirai, 56, was sworn in by President Robert Mugabe in a ceremony in Harare.

February 1st, 2009 ADDIS ABABA - The African Union (AU) leaders meeting here have agreed to change the existing AU commission, the group's legislative body, into an African Union Authority (AUA) as part of an effort to expand the group's mandate in Africa, BuaNews reported Monday. The heads of states of the 53-member African Union attending the 12th summit in the Ethiopian capital would also discuss political situations in Zimbabwe, Somalia and the global financial crisis, among others.

January 25th, 2009 PRETORIA - The leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) began an extraordinary summit here in South Africa Monday, in yet another attempt to eke a compromise from Zimbabwe's rival leaders on power-sharing, BuaNews reported. Both Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai are present at the meeting which is underway at the Presidential guesthouse in Pretoria and chaired by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.

January 25th, 2009 PRETORIA - Police in South Africa fired rubber bullets at hundreds of people protesting outside government buildings over the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe, injuring at least one. The protest took place around a kilometre from where Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was meeting with his southern African counterparts and his arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai over the political impasse in his country.

December 28th, 2008 JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has lifted a blockade on aid to Zimbabwe because of the worsening humanitarian crisis in the neighbouring country, a South African presidential spokesman said Monday. South Africa halted aid to Zimbabwe earlier in a bid to build pressure on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the opposition to hasten the formation of a national unity government.