Zimbabwe Shrugs Off Sanctions

A top official of President Robert Mugabe on Saturday scoffed at new U.S. sanctions, while an official said the government should take over businesses owned by whites and people of Indian origin.

Mugabe also lambasted former colonial power Britain, which spearheaded the imposition of similar European Union sanctions against him and his aides.

The 78-year-old Mugabe hopes to extend his 22-year rule by beating opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the March 9-10 election.

On Friday, Washington issued an order barring Mugabe and senior aides and their families from entering the U.S. The ban was issued to protest an election campaign “marred by political violence and intimidation,” U.S. officials said.

The EU has imposed a visa ban and asset freeze on 20 Zimbabwean officials and withdrawn its election observer mission, saying its members would not be able to do their jobs.

Ruling party official Didymus Mutasa shrugged off the U.S. move. “We are not surprised at [these] sanctions. The aim is to put us under pressure and to give an advantage to the opposition,” he said. “But the sanctions will not work, and they will not soften our resolve to defend Zimbabwe’s national sovereignty.”

Elliot Manyika, a government minister, said that if Mugabe was reelected, the administration would move to expropriate businesses not owned by blacks. He said companies run by non-blacks were hoarding essential commodities.