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Wallace Ruzvidzo recently in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
IT was a typical case of numbers counting for little, so long as the message was emphatically delivered.
A modest crowd stormed the environs of the United States of America consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, last Sunday to mark the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day.
In spite of their numbers, the crowd made quite an impression.
It delivered an unambiguous message: That sanctions must be unconditionally and immediately removed.
The colourful crowd was a miscellany of the Zimbabwean Diaspora and South Africans, mainly from the governing African National Congress (ANC) party.
The marchers, who trooped for two kilometres from Loftus Park Triangle to the US consulate, braved Johannesburg’s scorching summer heat.
Along the way, they were in full voice, singing and dancing to revolutionary songs and chanting anti-sanctions slogans.
The deserted Sunday morning Johannesburg streets made the voices, and with it the message, throughout the environs, attracting curious glimpses from residents patched on their home balconies.
The South African Police Services ably escorted the protesters.
After arriving at the US consulate, the marchers exploded into boisterous singing and dancing before solidarity messages were made.
ANC national executive committee and national working committee member Cde Dakota Legoete delivered a stinging rebuke to the US for unilaterally imposing the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA).
“As the ANC, we stand in support of Zimbabwe and SADC on the resolution that sanctions must be removed,” said Cde Legoete.
“We support Zimbabwe and derive our ethos from Ubuntu. In the 20 years of these sanctions, we have seen over five million Zimbabweans leaving their country to find opportunities elsewhere. We have three million Zimbabweans both documented and undocumented living and working here in South Africa.”
ZANU PF SA district information and publicity secretary Cde Kennedy Mandaza told the marchers that the embargo was a violation of human rights.
The US, he said, had no right to impose measures that have caused suffering to millions of Zimbabweans.
“If ever there are to be more reforms, these should be demanded by Zimbabweans and not America,” he said.
One of the Zimbabwean marchers was Mr Peter Magasu, who has been living in South Africa for over a decade after relocating to escape the challenging economic conditions caused by the sanctions back home.
He came with his young daughter.
“I left Zimbabwe because of high unemployment and lack of opportunities,” he told The Sunday Mail.
“My daughter was born here in South Africa, but all things being normal she should have been born in her real home country.
“I wish to return home but cannot do so under the current conditions, which is why I have joined the march.”
As sunset approached, the protestors dispersed, delighted that their forceful expression of disgust had been delivered right at the front door of the sanctioners.
The march was one of the various events organised in different SADC countries to demand the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter