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Taking Stock Kudzanai Sharara
Today Zimbabweans have been called to march against sanctions that were imposed on the country by western powers with the United States’ Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act (ZIDERA) the most damaging.
When we consider the damage that the sanctions have had on the country’s economy, today’s march is literally a fight for our lives.
Today’s march against sanctions reminds us of the song “Fight for your life” by German acappella band, Van Canto. The song’s lyrics resonate well with what Zimbabweans, even those in denial over the impact of sanctions, are going through today.
When you get targeted by a super power such as the United States of America, whose word and action normally goes unchallenged across the globe, then you must know when you choose to fight back, it’s a fight for your life.
Indeed, the level of economic demise, the erosion of salaries, the dilapidated hospitals, the collapsed industry, makes the fight against sanctions the fight of our lives.
Of course we should, with equally the same energy, fight corruption, nepotism, cronyism, incompetence among other ills.
But, just because there are other self-imposed challenges hindering the country’s economy growth and development, does not mean we should not fight against sanctions.
We have to.
It’s our lives that are under siege.
As we march, let’s remember the words of the Canto Band.
The whole world against you?
Bad things you’ve been through?
Ignore disbelievers, the so called achievers.
You are just doing it right.
You’re facing haters?
Marooned by traitors?
Every morning, instead of mourning
Wake up and stand up to fight.
And by time this elegy,
Is healing wounds, and blinded eyes will see.
Lost in eternity, banned for all times?
Fight for your life.
Are you bound in darkness?
Is it that you miss the light?
Fight for your life.
Imagine getting stronger
Instead of feeling weak inside.
Fight for your life.
Betrayed by liars?
You’re trapped by fires?
Just feel empowered, every hour,
Knowing you’re just doing right.
And by time this threnody
Is giving life for those who dare to feel.
Creating reality from the inside.
Fight for your life.
Today Zimbabwe, supported by SADC countries, we are marching for our lives. We have written before about sanctions and their impact of economic growth and development. Nothing has changed!
All what sanctions do is to slow down and destroy economic growth, while producing new uncertainties, something which the authors of the sanctions fully understand, but unfortunately many among locals choose to ignore, blurred by political ambitions and affiliations.
In an interview on China Global Television Network, one of the proponents of the sanctions, Chris Coons, admits that the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe will prevent the country from re-establishing robust economic ties.
Asked on what effect the lifting of sanctions will have on the southern African country, Coons said removing sanctions on Zimbabwe will provide significant economic lift for the country as it will encourage foreign direct investment and re-establishment of robust economic ties.
In other words, Coons is admitting that the imposition of sanctions will discourage foreign direct investment, establishment of economic ties as well as dampen re-engagement processes, all three being key to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to change the fortunes of the country for the better.
According to Coons as long as there are significant sanctions in place by Western countries, it makes it harder for the country to access capital and even harder to attract the sort of interest and engagement that will revive the Zimbabwean economy.
He is right, sanctions negatively affect the image of the country through negative perceptions by international financial markets, making it difficult for Zimbabwean companies to access lines of credit because of the perceived country risk. Negative publicity adversely affects investment levels into the country, thus, accentuating the foreign exchange shortages currently bedevilling the country.
This should be enough evidence that sanctions are meant to scupper economic growth, something which any progressive Zimbabwean, no matter political differences, should not wish upon the nation.
There is no need to be philosophical about sanctions as the effects are tangible. In fact, the record of economic sanctions in forcing political change is dismal, but as a way of reducing a country to poverty and misery it is difficult to beat.
Former United Nations, Secretary General, the late Kofi Annan, once bemoaned the adverse effects of sanctions, when he said ‘sanctions remain a blunt instrument, which hurt large numbers of people who are not their primary targets’
In Zimbabwe sanctions, whether disguised in any form, ultimately result in poor health services delivery, shortages of drugs, and high infant mortality rates. Innocent civilians are thus, adversely affected by the sanctions.
Bongani Ndlovu