Zim receives EU aid after decade of sanctions

Harare - The European Union (EU) has given Zimbabwe $267m, it said on Monday, the first time the bloc has given financial aid to the southern African nation's government since imposing sanctions in 2002.

The 28-nation EU has gradually eased biting sanctions on Zimbabwe to encourage political reform, although it has kept an asset freeze and a travel ban on veteran President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, as well as an arms embargo.

Since imposing the sanctions, the EU has shunned the government, and restricted its funding to charities only.