President Bush said Wednesday he will retain U.S. economic penalties against President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and dozens of officials in Mugabe's government. An executive order Bush signed in March 2003 blocked all property and financial holdings in the United States of Mugabe and 76 government officials. It also barred U.S. citizens from having financial dealings with the listed people. The new document Bush signed Wednesday does not name the officials who are the subject of the order. But he used language from the original order in announcing he was keeping it in effect. It again stated that the policies of "certain members of the government of Zimbabwe" are "contributing to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe, to politically motivated violence and intimidation in that country and to political and economic instability in the southern African region." Last month Mugabe pledged to fight what he views as the efforts of Britain and the United States to topple his government.
| I'd be happy to see Bob proven right on that one. |
Mugabe also signed a decree authorizing detention without bail for up to four weeks for political and economic offenses such as corruption or money laundering.
| Wonder if any ZANU boys will be included? |
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