JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — President Bush signed into law tougher sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe’s regime Friday, a few days after the European Union ratcheted up its own set of sanctions.
Power-sharing talks continued in South Africa between the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change with a tight two-week deadline to strike a deal on a government of national unity.
“No regime should ignore the will of its own people and calls from the international community without consequences,” Bush said in a statement accompanying imposition of the tougher sanctions.
The sanctions froze the assets of 17 companies and one individual associated with the regime of President Robert Mugabe and banned Americans from doing business with them, adding to its existing list of 168 people and companies.
The EU last week increased its sanctions list to 168 people and companies, adding 37.
More than 150 people died in state-sponsored violence against opposition activists and supporters. Reports trickled out of Zimbabwe this month of scattered violence continuing against opposition activists.
Mugabe hung on to power in June 27 elections that were widely condemned as unfair.
China and Russia used their United Nations Security Council vetoes to vote down U.N. sanctions against Zimbabwe two weeks ago, but Mugabe’s regime faces increasing economic pressure with hyperinflation and a currency crunch.
With Mugabe increasingly isolated, the German firm that supplied the regime’s bank-note paper withdrew several weeks ago, leaving Zimbabweans scrambling for paper to print money. Without a constant supply of new bank notes, the regime will not be able to pay the security forces that keep it in power.
It is unclear how much each side will be willing to give up in the secret power-sharing talks, and whether a deal could win the support of the West if Mugabe retains substantial executive powers and keeps allies in charge of the security ministries.
Some analysts fear that if the MDC agrees to be part of a transitional government led by Mugabe, it risks being steamrollered by ZANU-PF, particularly if the ruling party retains the main security ministries.
Bush promised substantial aid if a deal on a new government is reached, but only if it reflected the will of the people.
ZANU-PF wants Mugabe to appoint a new government, while the opposition’s position is that the results of the first round of voting March 29, which was relatively free and fair, should form the basis of a new government.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the June 27 vote because of escalating political violence against MDC activists and supporters.
