Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has arrived at the Bulawayo Large City Hall, joining hordes of Zimbabweans in the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day event.
He is accompanied by the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga, Kembo Mohadi, Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube and other Government officials.
Vice President Chiwenga’s wife Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi Chiwenga is also present.
According to the official programme, President Mnangagwa, who is also SADC chairman, is expected to deliver his keynote address at the event under the theme, “Embracing Innovation towards Vision 2030: The Relentless Fight against Illegal Sanctions.”
The SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, organised since 2019 in solidarity with the rest of the region in defiance of the crippling impact of sanctions on development and ordinary people’s lives.
Earlier on, several groups gave solidarity messages denouncing the illegal sanctions. Sadc Member States have always stood in solidarity with Zimbabwe.
The US and the European Union imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe after the country embarked on the land reform programme to correct historical imbalances in land ownership where the white minority owned large tracts of land compared to the black majority.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur, Professor Alena Douhan, who was tasked by the global body to conduct a research on the impact of sanctions, came to Zimbabwe in 2021 and concluded that the measures were not justified.
Prof Douhan undertook an official visit to Zimbabwe from 18 to 28 October 2021 to examine the impact of unilateral sanctions on the enjoyment of human rights in Zimbabwe and on people’s right to development.
She concluded that sanctions, including secondary sanctions, and different forms of over-compliance by foreign banks and companies, have had a significant impact on the population and the Government.
Prof Douhan recommended that they be lifted.
Online Reporter