European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Monday decided to tighten sanctions on Zimbabwe's government by extending and expanding the lists of people and firms banned in the EU, Xinhua reported.
Meeting in Brussels, the EU foreign ministers decided to extend for another year the travel ban and the freezing of assets of companies.
Two dozen people and three dozen companies were added to the lists. EU-based companies were added to the list for the first time.
The EU foreign ministers also expressed concern about the growing trade in illicit diamonds that provide financial support to the Zimbabwean government and appealed for investigation.
The ministers deplored the escalation of the humanitarian crisis including a cholera epidemic, and condemned the government for its failure to address the most basic economic and social needs of the Zimbabwean people.
The ministers condemned "the ongoing violations of human rights, in particular the abduction and detention of those exercising a democratic right to express opposition to the regime and of those defending human rights."