Chronicle Editor
Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
THE imposition of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and its Western allies undermines the country and the Sadc region’s collective efforts towards regional integration and the desire to achieve sustainable development goals, Sadc Chairperson, President Mnangagwa, has said.
Speaking at State House in Harare yesterday to mark the commemoration of the Sadc-initiated Anti-Sanctions Day which was set aside by the regional bloc on October 25 of every year, President Mnangagwa said sanctions violate basic tenets of international law and the United Nations Charter hence they ought to be removed.
“In solidarity, the SADC community today joins Zimbabwe in calling for the immediate and unconditional removal of these unwarranted and cruel sanctions, which violate the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” he said.
“Our region enjoys relative peace and stability and continues to work towards achieving a prosperous and integrated region.
“We strive to secure a future where all our countries and peoples realise their mutually shared aspirations without leaving anyone and any place behind.
“The imposition of sanctions undermines our collective efforts towards regional integration and sustainable development.
“As a community, we have to continue working together to ensure that our region remains a beacon of hope and prosperity, for generations to come.”
President Mnangagwa said it was critical that messages denouncing sanctions reach every corner of the globe so that they might rattle the conscience of those that imposed them.
“May this message transcend our borders and reach the ears and rattle the conscience of those perpetuating these cruel sanctions.
“They must realise the extent of harm their reprehensible actions inflict on the generality of the people of Zimbabwe, on the SADC region, and Africa at large,” he said.
“I implore all progressive countries to continue rendering their principled support, to enable Zimbabwe and the SADC region to meaningfully contribute to the socio-economic development of the region and the world.”
President Mnangagwa hailed SADC member States for standing behind Zimbabwe in the call for the unconditional removal of illegal sanctions.
“It is noteworthy that our region has made tremendous progress since 2020, when the 40th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government designated the 25th of October as the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day. SADC Member States have always stood in solidarity with Zimbabwe. The summit decision added impetus to our collective resolve to fight against these illegal measures, which violate the basic human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the punitive measures were an albatross around the neck of ordinary Zimbabweans who bear their brunt on a daily basis.
“I wish to echo the unrelenting voices and pleas by the outgoing SADC Chairperson, His Excellency João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and other past Chairpersons and, indeed, our brothers and sisters in the region, in condemning and calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of sanctions.
“It is the ordinary people, particularly the vulnerable, who bear the brunt of these heinous and inhumane measures, which also stifle economic and social progress in 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 as they were imposed unilaterally without following basic tenets of international law.
Online Reporter