Manelisi Dubase, Washington

The United States says any suggestion that sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and other leaders of his ruling Zanu-PF party and their families should be lifted, is premature.  This comes after the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries called upon the international community to lift these sanctions.

The US and its European allies are digging in their heels on the issue of sanctions. They say these efforts are directed at individuals, who continue to destabilize and impede political progress in Zimbabwe. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnny Carson said: "We do not believe that the Global Political Agreement has been implemented and we do not believe that enough has been done."

The US has also reiterated that, as much as it will continue supporting humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe, it will not give any direct financial support to the government of that country. "We think that it is important not to let the economic advantages that Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti bring to the case to be exploited and used by Robert Mugabe and others to secure further control on government," Carson added.

Observers believe that the financial support from the US, Europe and other donors is crucial for the revival of Zimbabwe's ravaged economy. US President Barack Obama will host African leaders, including Jacob Zuma and Joseph Kabila of the DRC, for lunch in New York next week, where the issue of Zimbabwe is again going to be discussed.