Brussels, 30/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - The international community should lift its sanctions against the regime of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, South African President Jacob Zuma told the European Parliament foreign affairs committee on 29 September. Lifting sanctions “would give a chance to the efforts we are making there and empower the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to do more on Zimbabwe,” Zuma told MEPs. Zuma has been mandated by the SADC to act as a facilitator to try to get full application of the power-sharing agreement and to promote political dialogue in Zimbabwe. On 28 September, following the EU-South Africa summit, permanent President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy told press that the EU was prepared to have a fresh look at sanctions against Harare if there was genuine improvement in the political, democratic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Zuma was also questioned by MEPs about plans by the ANC, South Africa's ruling party, to restrict freedom of the press by setting up media tribunals. “We have a responsibility to protect citizens' rights to privacy and freedom of the media is the only unregulated freedom. It cannot be abused,” he replied. (H.B./transl.rt)