Mugabe's wife hit by fresh sanctions on Zimbabwe elite

A Europe-wide travel ban and asset freeze was imposed on 52 more members of the Zimbabwean ruling party – including Grace Mugabe, the wife of President Robert Mugabe – in protest at the government's crackdown on the independent press, the judiciary and opposition officials.

Under pressure from Britain and Germany, EU ministers extended sanctions to cover all cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and members of the ruling Zanu-PF politburo.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, described the decision as proof "the world is not going to ignore the callous behaviour of the Zimbabwean regime", and dismissed suggestions the sanctions had been ineffective. They had, he added "created a sense of isolation among those responsible for the dire situation in Zimbabwe".

Chris Patten, the European commissioner for external relations, said it was "appalling that, when people are starving in Zimbabwe, their leaders are going around the world spending a lot of money". The new sanctions were "bad news for Harrods", he said.

Under the measures agreed yesterday, even ministers responsible for culture and the disabled will be banned from travelling in the EU, and will have any assets held in Europe frozen.

Mr Mugabe and 19 of his closest colleagues had already been subject to the ban, imposed in February when the government in Harare obstructed the work of EU election monitors. Yesterday's decision means that 72 people are now be affected. Glenys Kinnock, the Labour MEP, said the decision "will stop Grace Mugabe going on her shopping trips in the face of catastrophic poverty blighting the people of Zimbabwe".

Since Mr Mugabe was returned to power, in a poll that opposition politicians claim was rigged, respect for human rights in Zimbabwe has deteriorated further.

Land seizures from white farmers have helped drive a country with a once strong agricultural sector to the brink of starvation.

Jügen Chrobog, Germany's deputy foreign minister, said that while there were food crises across much of southern Africa because of bad harvests and poor weather, Zimbabwe was an exception. "The government of Mr Mugabe leads the country into a catastrophe" because of corruption and economic mismanagement, he argued.

Mr Straw said one important factor in winning support for yesterday's decision was a recent speech by Abednico Ncube, Zimbabwe's deputy foreign minister, which made clear food aid would not be made available to opposition supporters. "We do not want people who vote for colonialists and then come to us when they want food", Mr Ncube was quoted as saying, "You cannot vote for the [opposition] Movement for Democratic Change and expect Zanu-PF to help you." That prompted Mr Straw to claim the Mugabe regime was "willing, literally, to let people starve unless they vote for a corrupt and bankrupt regime, to keep it in power".

Critics remain unconvinced by the effectiveness of the sanctions, despite signs they are causing some inconvenience – in particular to the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister, Stan Mudenge, who was denied a visa to attend his daughter's wedding in Germany.

There are exemptions for ministers attending international meetings and, earlier this year, Mr Mugabe took part in a UN-sponsored conference in Rome. Zimbabwe is also likely to be allowed to send a minister to a meeting between the EU and south African nations in Copenhagen on 7-8 November.

But the EU has ruled out full economic sanctions. A British Red Cross mission issued a bleak report at the weekend of famine, Aids, corruption and lack of medicines in the country.