Online Reporter
Columbus Mabika
Herald Reporter
Political commentators yesterday said the removal of Zimbabwe Defense Industries (ZDI) from the sanctions list by the European Union (EU) is a sign of acknowledgement by the West that sanctions were wicked and malicious, while it is also a step towards the universal removal of the embargo.
The EU on Wednesday delisted the ZDI from the restrictive measures imposed in 2002 but maintained an embargo on arms and equipment.
“(EU) Council renews restrictive measures framework and delists one entity. The Council today renewed its framework for restrictive measures in view of the situation in Zimbabwe for a further year, until 20 February 2026. The Council also delisted the last remaining entity, the Zimbabwe Defence Industries. The embargo on arms and equipment . . . remains in place,” the EU said.
The development comes as the SADC region and the African continent at large have joined the long growing band of calls for sanctions which have caused untold suffering on the Zimbabwean populace and hampered economic development to be removed.
Former legislator and National Peace and Reconciliation Commissioner Mr Obert Gutu said the removal was positive but universal removal of sanctions should be immediate.
“By removing the Zimbabwe Defence Industries from the illegal, punitive and ruinous sanctions list, the EU is simply acknowledging the fact that these sanctions were wicked and malicious in the very first place and also that they’re no longer serving any purpose,” he said.
“Right from the outset there was absolutely no legal justification to place the ZDI under these malevolent sanctions, the whole idea was to punish Zimbabwe for the revolutionary land reform programme that is irreversible and that Zimbabwe’s sovereignty is not for sale.”
Fundamentally, Mr Gutu said these illegal sanctions were simply meant to make Zimbabwe’s economy scream with the aim of collapsing the national economy.
The removal of ZDI from the sanctions, he said, will enable the company to trade normally and also be able to easily access modern technology in the armaments industry.
He said this will definitely make the ZDI more efficient, competitive and more profitable.
Another political analyst, Dr Tongai Dana concurred saying the EU decision to remove ZDI from the sanctions list marks a significant milestone, not just for the defence sector but for the broader national economy.
“This move signals a shift towards re-engagement, opening doors for economic expansion, industrial growth, and enhanced national security. While challenges remain, this development offers Zimbabwe an opportunity to reclaim its place in the global defence and economic landscape, fostering resilience and self-sufficiency in the face of restrictions,” he said.
He said the development signals the possibility of re-engagement.
“This move sits at the intersection of realism, where strategic interests dictate foreign policy, and constructivism, which acknowledges that international relations are shaped by evolving norms and diplomatic recalibration,” he said.
Defence industries worldwide, he said, serve as critical engines for industrialisation, job creation, and technological advancement.
In Zimbabwe’s case, the development will unlock access to global defence markets, facilitate technology transfer, and enhance financial transactions, previously stifled by restrictions.
From a national security perspective, Dr Dana said the ability to develop an independent defence industry reduces reliance on foreign arms suppliers, a challenge faced by many African nations vulnerable to external pressures leading to terrorism.
Anti-sanctions activist, Mr Witness Dube, said the removal of ZDI from the sanctions list has a positive impact on the economy.
“This is a sign that the relationship between Zimbabwe and the EU is thawing and an acknowledgement of the existence of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which were the reasons cited for the sanctions in the first place,” he said.
“Removal of ZDI as an entity is positive for economic growth as this company can now go all out to attract foreign investment while trading on the international stage. Growth in this sector will open doors for the yet unknown economic activity that has been subdued by sanctions,” he said.
