Britain and the EU are preparing to lift sanctions on Robert Mugabe and his closest henchmen in an effort to persuade the Zimbabwean President into holding free and fair elections.

A review of the measures that have banned the 88-year old Mr Mugabe, his military allies and key officials, from travel to Europe and froze suspect bank accounts will conclude that sanctions should now be conditionally suspended.

The sanctions were imposed in 2002 after Mr Mugabe oversaw a murderous campaign to drive out white farmers that pushed the economy into a disastrous slump.

European officials have told the Daily Telegraph there is now agreement to bring Zimbabwe back in from the cold but only if new conditions are met.

These include the publication of a new constitution, the adoption of human rights laws, a successful referendum and the conduct of free elections next year.

Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has been in fragile power sharing pact with Mugabe since 2009, has said a new constitution will be issued next week, a development that has paved the way for a meeting in Brussels next month where the sanctions deal will be signed off.

The officials said that the EU would present a unified position designed to encourage reforms that ensure President Mugabe and his Zanu PF ruling party cannot repeat the 2008 stolen election.

As the former colonial power, Britain's objections to removing or suspending sanctions has ensured that there has only been a gradual easing of restrictions on Zanu PF despite the establishment of the coalition government.

Diplomats said that the British position remained key...

Officials said that Britain had been influenced by calls from the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister, for the sanctions to be lifted, as well as criticism by Navi Pillay, the UN human rights commissioner. Miss Pillay said the stigma of sanctions was inflicting damage on the Zimbabwean economy.

A Foreign Office spokesman said that circumstances in Zimbabwe had changed since sanctions were put under review earlier this year.

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Editor's Note: Brings a whole new meaning to "getting away with murder."


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