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Ranson Madzamba
Sanctions can generally be defined as penalties that are imposed to ensure compliance with the law.
The major goal of sanctions is to punish the rule breaker. They are imposed for the rule breaker to change her policy and for the good of the imposer.
They are designed to safeguard the economic interest of the imposer.
Coming back to the Zimbabwean case, I would want to explore why the European Union, United States and Australia imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
A number of pundits have written a lot on why Zimbabwe got this embarrassment from the western countries.
The real issue why Zimbabwe got sanctions was because of the land reform. This is a well-known public secret.
The land reform saw the black majority taking over farms from the former imperialists who happen to be the British.
This did not go well with Britain and her allies hence they decided to impose economic sanctions on Zimbabwe.
As I have mentioned above, sanctions are imposed for the rule breaker to change her policy and for the good of the imposer.
Britain and her allies, the US included, did not like the land reform policy for they wanted the whites to remain in control of the best lands in the country.
Former United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Howard French said the land reform triggered the sanctions.
“Everyone felt that they had invested something to the success of Zimbabwe, so when it all started unravelling, everyone felt personally disappointed,” he said.
This indeed proves it beyond reasonable doubt that the land reform triggered the western countries to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.
It looks like Zimbabwe was showered with sanctions to discourage other countries surrounding it from taking over their land but from the outlook of things right now almost all our neighbours are pushing to take over their land.
The land reform policy in Zimbabwe, is now a constitutional phenomenon and it has been agreed it will never ever be reversed. Yes, it is now irreversible, but sanctions must immediately go.
The rule of law is about the majority and the majority of Zimbabweans have agreed to reclaim their land and it is now even in the country’s constitution. So, the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe must just go!
As much as the West felt disappointed by the land reform, they are supposed to just lift the sanctions for the people of Zimbabwe have decided on what they want.
The same even goes to all that has been happening in the country as long as the majority of Zimbabweans endorse or have endorsed a decision, it is just good for the international world to come on board and favour that which the majority are in for.
This is what the rule of law is all about.
The coming up of the SADC Anti Sanctions Day is a clear testimony that Africans have all come to the realisation that sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the western nations are illegal.
Their negative effects are not felt by Zimbabweans alone but by the southern region if not the whole African continent.
This year’s SADC Anti- Sanctions Day theme was “Harnessing the Youth for Accelerated Socio-Economic Development on the Fight Against Sanctions”.
The theme thus recognised how essential the youths are to the development discourse of our great nation, Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training and its parastatal, the Zimbabwe Youth Council, hosted a SADC Anti-Sanction Youth Dialogue.
A number of youths and youths’ associations graced this important occasion to deliberate on their future in this sanctions infested environment. The youths are indeed calling for the immediate removal of sanctions.
Speaking at the occasion, the Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister, Tino Machakaire encouraged the youths to work together for the economic good of the country.
“Zimbabwe is our country together. It requires mainly the youths for it to be regarded as a developed country. It is the youths who will make Zimbabwe great since they are the active age. Let all our youths stop abusing drugs since this will definitely derail the development agenda of our country.
“We are supposed to be busy working for our country in various economic sectors. Our doors are ever open to all the youths who have vibrant ideas to take our country to the next level.
“Sanctions are one way or the other hindering our development endeavours and must be lifted as a matter of urgency. They must go,” said Minister Machakaire.
Sanctions have caused a lot of disturbances to the growth of our economy as a country.
There is no access to credit lines and balance of payment support. Our country’s balance of payment position has deteriorated significantly since the imposition of the sanctions.
It is a well-known factor that it is because of sanctions that our country’s banks and money transfer agencies are facing problems in meeting their customers’ obligations, including diaspora remittance into the country following terminations of transfers with international banks.
We are actually witnessing a number of cases of blocked funds or failure to transact in the business sector and even among individuals. The enactment of ZIDERA on the other side has actually blocked our access to international credit markets.
Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy as a country. It provides employment and income to over 60 percent of the population.
Sanctions are however an impingement to the development of our agriculture sector. Agriculture lines of credit and attract investments are now extremely difficult.
It can thus be noticed that sanctions have brought a number of hindrances to the growth of our economy as a country. They must go as a matter of urgency!
#Vision2030Tinosvika/Siyafika!
Ranson Madzamba is a communication and advocacy deputy director for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
He is a Communication and Advocacy PhD student. He is a holder of a Master of Science Degree in Media and Society Studies. He is also a holder of a BSc Hons Degree in Media and Society Studies
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