Human Rights Watch has urged international donors not to extend aid to Zimbabwe beyond what is being provided to meet humanitarian needs until Harare has made what it described as “irreversible changes” on human rights, the rule of law and governance.
The watchdog group said that despite February's formation of a national unity government in Harare under Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change and President Robert Mugabe, head of the longtime ruling ZANU-PF party, militants of the latter formation continue to attack white-owned farms, among other rights abuses.
Human Rights Watch Africa Consultant Dhewa Mavhinga told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that targeted sanctions against Mr. Mugabe and his backers should also be maintained until the new government embraces major reforms.
