The UK regularly reviews its sanctions designations. The four individuals removed from the UK Sanctions list are no longer in the positions held when they were designated in 2021. The revocations follow a similar move from the European Union in February 2025, when they delisted their last remaining entity (ZDI) whilst renewing their existing Zimbabwe sanctions framework. The US also removed a number of designations in March 2024.

As set out in my statement of 11 September 2012, the EU announced on 23 July 2012 that we would respond to a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum in Zimbabwe with a suspension of the EU restrictive measures on all but a small core of individuals around President Mugabe, particularly those who will most directly influence the potential for violence in the next election. The EU will in due course discuss which measures on individuals and entities should be included in any suspension should a Referendum take place. Any decision must be made by the 27 member states in consensus, considering all legal arguments.

As to the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, we remain concerned by the serious allegations that have been made by Global Witness and others. We are considering all of this evidence prior to discussions with EU partners and where appropriate will seek to retain or add names if there is a compelling legal justification to do so. Absent any changes following a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum all EU restrictive measures on Zimbabwe would be subject to renewal on 20 February 2013. Renewal must also be agreed by all 27 member states in consensus.

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

EU restrictive measures imposed on Zimbabwe consist of an arms embargo. prohibition on equipment that could be used for internal repression, a travel ban against designated individuals and an assets freeze on designated individuals and entities.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for setting policy on sanctions in general and on individual sanctions regimes, including the EU sanctions on Zimbabwe. Implementation of the measures against individuals and entities is carried out by the relevant competent authorities for each class of sanctions, namely BIS for export controls, UKBA for the travel ban and HMT for the assets freeze. The means of implementation are different for each, but are effected by a mixture of legislation and administrative procedures. A cross-Whitehall Sanctions Group, chaired by my officials, meets regularly to discuss policy on sanctions regimes and their effective implementation.