Illegal sanctions have cost both sides

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said the impact of illegal sanctions is not just felt locally as the Western nations that imposed them have also lost business opportunities in the country hence the need to normalise relations.

The country’s Land Reform Programme implemented in 2000 triggered the imposition of economic sanctions against Zimbabwe, mainly in the form of the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) in America.

The sanctions have had a negative impact on the country as they caused massive de-industrialisation and extensive migration.

Sadc has maintained that the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are hurting the entire region hence the economic bloc on October 25, 2019, embarked on a campaign to speak with one voice against the punitive measures.

October 25 has been set aside as a solidarity day against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and all Sadc countries have agreed to conduct various activities in their respective countries on that day to resoundingly call for the immediate removal of the sanctions.

Writing in his weekly column in our sister paper Sunday News yesterday, President Mnangagwa said it is not just Zimbabwe that has suffered as a result of sanctions hence the Second Republic’s re-engagement policy.

“My trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, informed by contacts I made with representatives of key partners, gave me great hope that our engagement and re-engagement policies are beginning to yield positive results. There is now an appetite to engage and partner Zimbabwe, including in hitherto coy Western capitals,” he said.

“Indeed, a growing realisation that the more than two decades of illegal sanctions have cost both sides enormously, and that such hostile policies must now give way to gainful bilateral co-operation.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe remains a friend to all and an enemy to none.

“Equally, Zimbabwe will never forget its friends who stood by it through thick and thin. These will always enjoy a pride of place in our decisions and policies,” he said.

President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude to Zimbabweans for entrusting Zanu-PF to govern, saying the country shamed naysayers when it conducted peaceful polls.

“I am convinced that we have turned the corner, resolutely abhorring and putting behind us the baneful cycle of political violence which used to convulse past elections, thus stereotyping and besmirching our nation,” he said.

“Indeed, that sad and regrettable past has been a rough teacher; it has delivered hard lessons which now stand heeded by all actors in our political society. Well done, Zimbabwe!”

President Mnangagwa said peace should be the guiding force as the country fosters development.

He said the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) remains a critical platform for inclusive political engagement.

“We need to work together, including across the political divide. I intend to reinstate the framework for Political Actors Dialogue, Polad. It served us remarkably well in the last five years, helping us to find each other across the political divide, thus conceiving policies for our nation collectively,” he said.

“To that end, I shall be inviting leaders of all political parties who participated in the just-ended Harmonised Elections so, together, we refashion the framework in order to make it more responsive and better able to serve the times and our nation.”

President Mnangagwa said national development should never be constrained by political difference.

Most of the political actors participated in Polad except for the Mr Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance which later transformed into Citizens Coalition for Change following a split with Mr Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T.

“I trust that my invitation will be welcomed by most, if not all political actors. Party politics must never stand in the way, or make us deaf to the call to work together for the collective good of our people and our nation. Zimbabwe is our country together,” said President Mnangagwa.