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Norbert Hosho Correspondent
The United States has been saying the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe are targeted and do not affect ordinary Zimbabweans, yet this is far from the truth.
The sanctions have affected the very human rights that the US has accused the Zimbabwean Government of violating.
Social security is a right that all Zimbabweans are entitled to, and it includes, among other things, the right to decent and affordable housing, health, education, and child care, enough disposable income, and medical treatment.
Perhaps let us make a quick reflection on the dawn of the 21st century which saw Zimbabwe effecting its Land Reform in 2000.
This was part of Government efforts to empower the black majority. Sadly, this historic programme was followed by the imposition of sanctions by the West.
For any progressive Zimbabwean, the historic land reform remains a noble cause aimed at black empowerment towards both macro and micro-economic emancipation, global competitiveness and self-determination as a people.
The period following the imposition of sanctions has been characterised by a surge in social ills such as domestic violence, poverty, unequal opportunities, racism, malnutrition, political polarisation, substandard housing, employment discrimination and child abuse and corruption, among others.
These social ills have affected every citizen, and in most cases those who have not been on any sanctions list.
It is worrying that some of our fellow Zimbabweans have had their funds frozen by other countries, receiving emails to the effect that the freezes were in line with regulations governing conduct with members from countries that are under sanctions.
The citizens being referred to here are ordinary Zimbabweans whose names have never been on any sanctions list, but failed to transact by reason of being Zimbabwean.
It has been evident over the years that local organisations in Zimbabwe are also deterred under the same regulations from doing business with or on behalf of any person or entity under sanctions.
Any act in breach of the regulations attracts huge financial penalties.
Companies are left with no option, but to inevitably transfer the burden to the customer who is the ultimate victim of the sanctions.
If a bank is penalised in this way, for instance, it will certainly have to increase charges for the depositors to raise the required fine.
In the case of trading entities, the financial penalty is factored into the price of products and ultimately paid by the general populace, causing price increases and thereby making life more and more difficult for the ordinary person.
There are known instances where Zimbabwean companies paid for productive equipment abroad on behalf of local customers who happened to be either designated nationals or associated with such nationals, only to be informed that despite the payments having been received, delivery would not be made, resulting in loss of both foreign currency and production for the country.
This substantiates the correct observation that while sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have been packaged as “targeted” the truth of the matter is that the impact is not targeted at few individuals as purported.
The sanctions have had adverse impact on the people of Zimbabwe since their imposition as several companies had either to close down or downsize.
The crumbling of any company translates to the social ills already alluded to.
Examples of the companies affected include ZISCOsteel, CSC, ZB Bank and ZDI, to mention just a few.
Employees who used to enjoy incentive bonuses lost them as the impact of the sanctions filtered into all entities across the economy.
And anyone who imposes sanctions on another does so with anticipation or full knowledge of the resultant consequences.
It is, therefore, reasonable for all Zimbabweans to understand that the imposition of sanctions was meant to inflict pain and suffering on the citizens and impede Government efforts to execute national development strategies.
Everyone in Zimbabwe has a right to food, shelter, and education. The over two-decade-old sanctions’ crippling consequences have damaged all of these.
Human rights have been denied to Zimbabweans since the imposition of the illegal sanctions at the turn of the millennium, despite the US’ claims to be a defender of these rights.
Some young people born in 2000 were denied access to education, work, housing, and even food due to the illegal sanctions that have decimated socio-economic structures.
According to the US, sanctions primarily go after people who participate in corruption, abuse human rights, or undercut democratic institutions or processes.
The US claims that trade between the US and Zimbabwe is not prohibited by targeted sanctions.
If that is the case, one wonders why the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a financial intelligence and enforcement agency of the US Treasury Department, has been preventing financial transactions of some companies in the country to the point that many millions of dollars have been paid in fines, and funds of ordinary citizens been frozen over the years, simply because one is a Zimbabwean.
OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions in support of US national security and foreign policy.
In spite of what the US has said, the sanctions have severely damaged the nation’s economy.
Nobody, least of all a superpower like the United States, is threatened by Zimbabwe.
Instead, Zimbabwe is a tiny, mineral-rich nation in the third world that is struggling to make ends meet while attempting to improve the lives of its citizens.
The country aims to become a middle-income nation by 2030, yet the US is the one preventing Zimbabwe from even engaging in trade due to the sanctions.
Zimbabwe has never interfered with any country’s foreign policies, but its correct to say the reverse is true.
The land redistribution that the country embarked on that sparked the tiff between the US and Zimbabwe is justified and is an internal affair and Zimbabwe offers no apologies for that.
The US has been referring to Zimbabwe’s need to work on its reforms, even though the later is already doing so.
The US has no business pressuring the nation to enact reforms as the Government, particularly the Second Republic, has already embarked on continuous improvement in all aspects.
The nation is aware of what must be done to improve the socio-economic status of the citizens.
For the avoidance of doubt, the reform agenda does not involve the US; it is intended for Zimbabweans.
To create the future that Zimbabweans want, reform is required, not because we are trying to please other countries.
Self-determination is key for any independent country. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are moving in the right way.
Every aspect of life is evolving; hence reforms are imperative, in the church, home and university among others, but such reforms are a process and not an overnight procedure.
What is clear for all to see is that the US is hiding behind a finger.
They want a malleable Government in power so they can do whatever they want with the country and its resources. That is a puppet Government.
What every Zimbabwean needs to question is; of these reforms the US is pushing for, who is meant to benefit?
Hence, the US should get off our back, we are a sovereign nation and Zimbabweans know what is good for them.
Would the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) be advocating for the easing of Zimbabwe’s sanctions if they had no impact on Zimbabweans and the region at large?
The opening of a new chapter by President Mnangagwa was supposed to ease the US’ antagonism on Zimbabwe.
The entire region has been impacted by these sanctions, not only the people of Zimbabwe and their Government.
If the US is sincere in the affairs of Zimbabwe, it should take a leaf from the African organisations like SADC and AU which are more versed with the goings-on in the southern African country and remove the evil sanctions.
Sanctions will never bring the regime change that the American government is pursuing, this has failed in the past two decades and it won’t happen in the near future despite the challenges the people have suffered.
After all, ZIDERA is very clear that the sanctions are meant to punish Zimbabweans.
For those who have read the document, they understand that US sanctions are simply punitive for the bold step taken by the Zimbabwean Government to put its people first ahead of the self-appointed global prefects.
The institutions which stopped to work with Zimbabwe as a result of sanctions against the country were benefiting the whole nation not individuals.
Therefore, removing their services and trying to fool Zimbabweans into believing that only “targeted” individuals would be affected is a deliberate attempt to cast a blind eye on the broader impact of sanctions.
Dr Norbert Hosho is the president and founder of Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust (ZAST), an educationist and trainer in economic empowerment and entrepreneurial leadership. He can be contacted on +263773115890 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
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