Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
THE African Union has renewed calls for the immediate and unconditional lifting of unilateral sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe, citing their impact on the country’s access to international financial systems, foreign investment and broader economic development.
In a statement issued today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, reiterated the continental body’s long-standing position that the restrictions should be removed, warning that they continue to constrain Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development.
The renewed call comes as Zimbabwe pursues its Vision 2030 ambition of attaining upper-middle-income economy status, with investment mobilisation, infrastructure development and stronger regional trade integration remaining central to its economic transformation agenda.
The AU said the illegal sanctions had significantly constrained Zimbabwe’s access to international financial systems, deterred foreign direct investment, increased the cost of doing business and severely limited the country’s ability to secure development assistance.
“These unilateral sanctions have significantly constrained Zimbabwe’s access to international financial systems, deterred foreign direct investment, increased the cost of doing business, and severely limited the country’s ability to secure development assistance,” the statement said.
Improved access to international finance and investment is important for funding infrastructure, expanding industrial capacity and supporting productive sectors such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism is critical for the country.
The AU’s position places the sanctions question within the wider debate over Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and its ability to mobilise affordable financing for capital-intensive projects needed to support sustained growth.
The commission said the restrictions had also undermined progress towards Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 objectives, the Southern African Development Community’s regional macroeconomic convergence and integration targets, the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Agenda 2063 is the AU’s long-term development blueprint, which seeks to promote inclusive growth, industrialisation, infrastructure connectivity and deeper economic integration across the continent.
The renewed call also reinforces the AU’s position that Zimbabwe’s economic development should be supported through regional solidarity and international cooperation.
“The Chairperson of the AU Commission reaffirms the continued commitment of the AU to support the brotherly nation of Zimbabwe in mobilising efforts for the lifting of the unilateral sanctions,” the statement said.
The continental body also expressed full alignment with the position taken by the SADC Chairperson on behalf of the region, underlining the regional bloc’s continued support for Zimbabwe’s call for the removal of the restrictions.
Improved access to international financial channels could support trade finance, correspondent banking relationships and investment flows, although the actual benefits would depend on the specific measures removed, investor confidence, domestic economic policies and the broader international business environment.
Zimbabwe’s efforts to attract investment will also depend on factors such as policy consistency, foreign currency availability, infrastructure reliability, predictable taxation and the ease of doing business.The commission reiterated its commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to secure the lifting of the sanctions, maintaining that their removal would help advance the country’s development objectives and broader regional integration aspirations.
Government has since approved the theme and programme for this year’s SADC Anti-Sanctions Solidarity Day commemorations, which will be held in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province, on Sunday, with Zimbabwe seeking to leverage regional integration and global partnerships to accelerate economic transformation.
The commemorations will run under the theme, “Leveraging Regional Integration and Global Partnerships for Economic Transformation beyond Illegal Sanctions”, indicating the Government’s thrust to expand trade, strengthen regional value chains and unlock new investment opportunities.
The annual event provides a platform for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to reaffirm its solidarity with Zimbabwe and call for the unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed against the country by the West.
SADC Heads of State and Government endorsed October 25 as Anti-Sanctions Day at their 39th Summit in 2019, establishing an annual regional platform for member states to express solidarity with Zimbabwe and highlight the economic consequences of the restrictions.
Zimbabwe has since commemorated the day under themes reflecting its position on sanctions and the need for their removal.
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