World pressure is mounting on Harare to stop demolishing shantytown homes deemed illegal. The European Union has expanded its list of Zimbabwean officials under a travel ban and asset freeze from 95 to 120 names. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says the new list includes all members of the new cabinet and politburo, and senior figures involved in the "manipulation of elections."
The British Ambassador to Harare voiced "strong concern" to Vice President Joyce Mujuru and State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa. In London, Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary Lord Triesman summoned the Zimbabwean charge d'affairs to protest the crackdown. Australia said Tuesday that all Zimbabweans, including diplomats, will need visas to transit through its airports.
Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya told Studio 7 this week that the sanctions were not intended to hurt ordinary people. Government today carried on with its crackdown. The focus has shifted to farms and the state's bulldozers were turned toward Bob Farm near Mabvuku, and near Bindura and Mazowe in Mashonaland West province. Police gave the settlers seven days to vacate or risk losing property and crops.
Studio 7 reporter Blessing Zulu spoke with University of Zimbabwe Development Studies Professor Brian Raftopolous about the shift in the crackdown operation toward farms - many of which were seized from white farmers and are now accupied by veterans of the 1970s independence struggle who have typically been loyal to the ruling party.
