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SOUTH AFRICA

Zimbabwe sanctions not discussed in EU meeting

The Swedish development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that EU sanctions imposed on Zimbabe were not discussed at an EU meeting with President Mugabe on Saturday.

Published: 13 September 2009 09:38 CEST

Swedish Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson said the dropping of targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe had not been discussed in talks here Saturday.

“We didn’t discuss that. This was not a negotiation time,” she said following the meeting between Mugabe and a high-level European Union delegation.

The meeting, aimed at easing diplomatic tensions, focused on the troubled implementation of a fragile unity deal between Mugabe and former political rival Morgan Tsvangirai who joined an inclusive government in February.

The EU and the United States imposed sanctions on Mugabe and his inner circle following a disputed presidential poll in 2002, which Western nations as well as independent local poll monitors described as flawed.

The Local reported on Saturday that Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt had resisted pressure from the South African president Jacob Zuma to push for the lifting of sanctions imposed on its neighbour Zimbabwe, denying that they were the cause of the country’s problems.

“It is not the restrictions that are creating problems in Zimbabwe, it is the mismanagement … not respecting of human rights,” he said in response to a question at a public address in Johannesburg.

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TRAVEL

Denmark bans travel from South Africa over new virus variant

Denmark said it is barring entry to non-Danish residents of South Africa due to fears over the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus there.

Published: 6 January 2021 13:35 CET
Denmark bans travel from South Africa over new virus variant
Passengers at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December 2020. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

South Africans and other foreign nationals who reside in Denmark will be allowed to return to Denmark from South Africa under the restrictions.

Denmark has not recorded any cases of the new variant, which was detected by South African authorities in mid-December and has since been found in a number of other countries.

The South African variant and another which has emerged in Britain are said to be more infectious versions of the virus, and have prompted widespread concern. The two variants are not the same as each other.

Denmark's decision came into effect Wednesday and will last until January 17th.

“This means that foreigners residing in South Africa generally will be refused entry to Denmark during this period,” the justice ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

The following groups from South Africa can be exempted and granted entry to Denmark:

  • Primary carers for children under the age of consent (upon documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark)
  • Family or partners to seriously ill or dying persons in Denmark (upon documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark)
  • Inward travel for the purpose of goods transport

Denmark, which is under a partial lockdown since mid-December, has almost 90 cases of the new British variant.

It has already barred entry to arrivals from Britain except for Danish nationals and permanent residents, who must present a negative virus test.

READ ALSO: Residents of Denmark returning from UK must take Covid-19 test within 24 hours of travel

Authorities said Tuesday they were toughening coronavirus restrictions and urged people to avoid social contacts.

“Stay at home as much as you can, don't meet people outside your household, those close to you,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference.

 

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