dyton mupawaenda
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
THE diplomatic community has added voices to the growing calls for the unconditional removal of illegal sanctions imposed by Western nations on Zimbabwe in a bid to force the country to reverse land reform.
The diplomats were speaking yesterday, the day designated as the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, which has found resonance with many countries.
This year’s Anti-Sanctions Day was held under the theme: “Harnessing the Youth for Accelerated Socio-Economic Development in the Fight Against Sanctions.”
Government took on board young people in the fight against the illegal economic sanctions.
The overwhelming condemnation of the sanctions that reverberated across the continent and beyond, drowned any attempts by erstwhile colonisers to justify the illegal economic sanctions that have for two decades constricted Zimbabwe’s economic growth.
The deputy Ambassador of Palestine Mr Salim Siam said sanctions against Zimbabwe must be lifted forthwith.
“Zimbabwe has been put under sanctions more than two decades ago and those sanctions were put on Zimbabwe illegally,” he said. “It is against the national law and the international humanitarian law. It is inhuman and the sanctions should be lifted.
“Even the State of Palestine, as we are representing our country, a long-time friend of Zimbabwe through its struggle today and tomorrow, we support our friends in Zimbabwe and we are against these illegal sanctions.
“We are going to do whatever we can to support our friends on the lifting of the sanctions. The same countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe are the same countries that are now supporting the Israeli colonial regime in Palestine to commit genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip.”
Mr Siam said the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe must be removed immediately, in as much as his country wanted Israeli forces to stop killing Palestinians in an indiscriminate genocide.
Cuban Charge de Affairs Mrs Yoisy Ford Garcia said: “They harm our societies and also seek to take our land and resources whether human or natural. Sanctions do all forms of pressures, threats and blackmail to drive them against us.
“Only as united people can we overcome sanctions together because they need strength and unity.”
In a statement, Iran condemned the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly and unreservedly condemns this unjustified imposition of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe, its people and by extension to SADC region, we, therefore, call for the immediate and unconditional removal of these inhumane and illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe,” said Iran.
“The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) was passed by the United States Congress in 2001 and subsequent amendments, is particularly disastrous to Zimbabwe and the welfare of Zimbabweans. The Islamic Republic of Iran stands in total support of the SADC/AU-supported anti-sanctions campaign to be held throughout the region on 25 October 2023 in solidarity with Zimbabwe and its people.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran knows the dire and negative consequences of illegal sanctions as it shares the same fate with Zimbabwe. In this regard, we stand firmly by the people of Zimbabwe in these difficult and trying times.”
Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust president Mr Nobert Hosho urged Zimbabweans to strengthen the existing relations as well as establish more ties with progressive countries.
“The relationship that we have with the State of Palestine, Cuba, China, India and Russia just to mention a few, is progressive. As Zimbabweans we are saying let us help improve those relations,” he said.
The Anti-Sanctions Day was adopted by the 39th SADC Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 2019.
The Summit designated October 25 of each year as the day of solidarity with Zimbabwe against the illegal sanctions imposed by some Western nations.
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