Online Reporter
A SPECTRE haunts southern Africa — not of its own making, but one imposed from distant capitals. For years, Zimbabwe has laboured under the weight of so-called “targeted” sanctions, punitive measures enacted by the United States and its Western allies. Yet, as President Mnangagwa powerfully declared at the recent 22nd Zanu-PF Annual People’s Conference, the walls of this coercive embargo are beginning to crumble. The collective will of Zimbabwe, fortified by the steadfast solidarity of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is proving to be an unstoppable force for justice.
The timing of this resolve is no accident. Next week, on October 25th, the region will once again observe the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day. This is not merely a symbolic gesture. It is a co-ordinated, regional roar against an injustice that stifles not just one nation, but the collective potential of southern Africa. As President Mnangagwa asserted:
“Through combined efforts with other countries in the region and beyond, the walls of sanctions and coercive measures must crumble.”
This is the clarion call: our unity is our strength and our victory is certain.
Let us be clear: the narrative peddled by the West that these are “targeted” measures is a fiction, a thin veil for a policy designed to inflict collective punishment. As Zanu-PF’s Women’s League Secretary for External Affairs, Cde Betty Kaseke, rightly noted, women bear the brunt of this economic warfare. When medical supplies are scarce, when the cost of food soars, and when opportunities for trade evaporate, it is the mothers, the entrepreneurs, and the caregivers of our society who suffer most.
Similarly, the description of the sanctions as “evil” is not hyperbole, but a stark assessment of their true nature. They are not a response to any genuine transgression but a punishment for Zimbabwe’s sovereign decision to reclaim its birthright — our land. The sanctions are the modern weapon of choice for former colonial powers unable to accept a nation’s right to self-determination and the equitable distribution of its own resources.
The success of the Second Republic’s foreign policy, an aggressive engagement and re-engagement strategy, is a testament to the power of principled diplomacy. This approach has already borne fruit, leading to the lifting of some sanctions by certain nations. It demonstrates that when Zimbabwe speaks with one voice and refuses to be bowed, the world is forced to listen.
As we approach SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, the message from Mutare is unequivocal. The fight is not waning; it is intensifying. From the highest levels of Government to grassroots mobilisers like Citizens Against Economic Sanctions, the nation is galvanised. The path forward is one of relentless, unified action. We will continue to conscientise our people, amplify our voices and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our SADC allies.
The West must finally hear this unified voice and recognise the futility of its punitive measures. The sanctions are illegal, immoral and ultimately, unsustainable. As President Mnangagwa declared, united we stand. And in that unity, the fall of this unjust embargo is not a hope — it is an inevitability.
