Sanctions are a declaration of war

What do you make of such criticism?
A: Firstly, we want to, as Zimbabweans, to join the Namibian nation in commemorating its Heroes Day. Those who criticise Namibia’s strong ties with Zimbabwe are doing so out of mischief or ignorance of the historical background between the two countries. The relations between the two nations date back to the liberation wars.
Annually, Zimbabwe and Namibia commemorate Heroes Day on 10 and 11; and 26 August, respectively. The two remember their heroes – dead or living. During Heroes days in both countries, the two peoples recall the supreme sacrifice paid by their heroes and heroines and those lying in unmarked graves in and outside the countries’ borders.

We should never denigrate, insult, forget or despise those who fought for the liberation of these two countries and the region. As we head for Gobabis, let each individual take time to reflect on the sacrifices of our heroes and heroines.

I pay special tribute to the Namibian youth of yesterday for its courage, dedication, loyalty and commitment to the liberation of Namibia. In fact, “their blood waters our freedom”.
In Zimbabwe, on Heroes Day, we reburied the remains of over 700, almost 1,000 men, women and children in a place called Chibondo (Place of Bones) in Central Zimbabwe.
The remains were exhumed from a mineshaft formally owned by a German company. This cruel act was carried out by the British-Smith illegal regime during the liberation struggle. Eyewitnesses have stated that people, including pregnant women, were thrown alive down the shaft. Similar mass graves have also been discovered in Namibia.

Critics of Zimbabwe-Namibia relations, are either detractors or agents of the illegal regime change agenda. You will recall that recently, the heads of political parties of former liberation movements met here in Windhoek, on 11 August 2011, to strengthen and consolidate relations amongst sister parties. They adopted further strategies towards the establishment of the historic heritage for the former liberation movements.

Q: Zimbabwe has been a target of Western sanctions. How did this affect the general situation at home?
A: The effects of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are well elaborated in the following 10 reasons issued at the launch of the anti-sanctions petition campaign:
• Sanctions are an attack on all Zimbabweans. They are wholesale; they are not personalized or targeted.
• Sanctions are an attack on our economy, our jobs, and our search for total empowerment. They are an attack on business, on workers, on consumers.
• Sanctions are an attack on our health, on the education of our children, on our social services and our infrastructure. They are an attack on the entire fabric of our society.
• Sanctions are an attack especially on the vulnerable in our society: Aids orphans, the disabled, the aged, the youth, women and children.
• Sanctions are an attack on our land and our land rights. They aim to create conditions for the reversal of the land reforms. They amount to an attack on you, the new farmer.
• Sanctions are illegal, undeserved and spiteful. They were unilaterally imposed outside the United Nations mandate by a British-led Western coalition defending minority rights in our country.
• Sanctions are a challenge to our national sovereignty; they are an illegal measure by foreigners working on challenging a sovereign people. They are an outsider’s law and/or policy, set against an independent country and people with its own Legislature.
• Sanctions are a racist attack on an African people.
• Sanctions are a tool for regime change.
• Sanctions are a gross human rights violation, indeed a violation of African rights.”

Q: Zimbabwe has been gathering anti-sanctions signatures. What is the status of that exercise?
A: It is important to acknowledge that Zimbabweans from all walks of life responded to the anti-sanctions petition campaign which proves that the sanctions were not just targeted at individuals, particularly the President, the ZANU-PF leadership, some religious leaders, ordinary Zimbabweans who are perceived to be ZANU-PF supporters, and state-owned companies, but the generality of Zimbabwe.

The imposition of sanctions is by nature a declaration of war. The all-encompassing illegal sanctions imposed by the US, the British and their Western allies, have affected every Zimbabwean across the board, even unborn children. The anti-sanctions petition campaign is an ongoing exercise, which has also been supported by Namibia at its launch in Harare in March 2011.
The ongoing campaign has surpassed 2 million signatures. These will be presented to SADC, the AU and the UN. SADC is already seized with the issue and has already sent a three-member team to the EU capitals and the United States, on an anti-sanctions lobby.

Q: Has consensus been reached yet on the date of the next general elections in Zimbabwe?
A: Progress has been made towards a consensus for the date of elections. This is an on-going exercise.

Q: How would you describe the mediation efforts of the South African President, Jacob Zuma, in Zimbabwe?
A: Our neighbour, South Africa, supported by the SADC leadership, has done a tremendous job in its facilitation role. If one looks at where Zimbabwe is coming from, there has been tremendous progress made within the last two years. The signing and adoption of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to the establishment of the Inclusive Government has brought about political and macro-economic stability. Cooperation of the three principals to the GPA – with the initial facilitator, former President Thabo Mbeki, to President Zuma and the entire SADC leadership – have played a critical role in Zimbabwe’s nation-building efforts.
In this respect, I wish to express our appreciation for the support and solidarity given in all aspects. Both Zimbabwe’s principals to the GPA and the SADC leadership are happy with President Zuma’s mediation efforts.

Q: You accompanied Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai when he visited President Hifikepunye Pohamba in March. What was the visit about, and did you agree with his plea for violence-free and fair elections in Zimbabwe?
A: Article XVIII of the Global Political Agreement talks about the “Security of Persons and Prevention of Violence”. Regarding the implementation of this Article, Vice President John Nkomo and two ministers each from MDC-T and MDC-N were tasked with the National Healing Exercise.

The Joint Organ for Monitoring and Implementation (JOMIC) of the Global Political Agreement, a sovereign organ chaired by all three political parties, was created. So far these bodies have done tremendous work on the issues of national healing and violence.
President Robert Mugabe has gone on record and consistently called for violent-free-elections. As recently as at the National Heroes Acre on Saturday 20 August, 2011, during the burial of the late highly decorated hero of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, Retired General Solomon Mujuru, the President reiterated the need for violent-free-elections in the country.

JOMIC, in its endeavour to carry out its mandate, holds constant meetings, reminding the general public that it should not engage in violent political related activities.
Therefore, it is wrong to give the impression that only the Prime Minister, Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai, is concerned about politically-motivated violence among the generality of Zimbabweans.

You may recall that after a few days of the Prime Minister’s visit to Namibia, he addressed the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, where he said that there was no violence in Zimbabwe. It is, therefore, ridiculous to imply that only the Honourable Prime Minister wishes to see violent-free elections in Zimbabwe.
I would appeal to all those who wish Zimbabwe well to desist from taking any measures that may cause division among the people of Zimbabwe. As journalists from the region, we know that you can freely get the facts and report truthfully.