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Leonard Ncube in Hwange
MATABELELAND North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo has implored United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Brian Nichols to convince his country to unconditionally lift sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe as they are causing untold suffering to ordinary people.
Minister Moyo was speaking at a site visit of a solar powered food and nutrition garden funded by the US through USAID and the World Food Programme in Chezhou ward 15, Hwange district on Thursday.
He said while Government welcomes the project as it enhances development and livelihoods, the continued existence of sanctions makes ordinary people suffer.
“This is in line with the National Development Plan and Vision 2030. I urge the community to embrace this programme, let’s own and protect infrastructure that comes through such programmes.
“However, your Excellency, you may be aware that the 25th of October has been set aside as Sadc Day Against Sanctions where Sadc has united and is making a bold statement against sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“We continue to call for the unconditional removal of these sanctions as they have caused so much suffering among our people,” said Minister Moyo.
In an interview, Ambassador Nichols said the US government is not under any pressure to remove sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Nichols said there are conditions Government has to first meet before the illegal sanctions are removed.
Addressing scores of villagers who are members of the nutritional garden earlier, Ambassador Nichols said the US government was committed to helping Zimbabwe as it had injected US$41.9 million towards the Zimbabwe food assistance programme.
He said the US had so far channelled US$110 million to Zimbabwe for the year 2019 with about US$15 million spent on food assistance programmes in 24 districts countrywide.
World Food Programme country director Mr Eddie Rowe said he was impressed by the Chezhou project and pledged more support.
The integrated project was started in 2009 and has 44 members.
The funders helped with 10 big solar panels, a 10 000 litre tank and two water troughs for livestock.
Chief Nekatambe implored the development partners to help the community with a bigger water source like a dam so that villagers can diversify their activities. — @ncubeleon
Online Reporter