War veterans demand urgent removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe

THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has thrown its weight behind calls by Zimbabweans for the unconditional and urgent removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States and its Western allies.

On Friday President Mnangagwa led the Anti-Sanctions Petition Programme in Bulawayo, where he signed the electronic petition and denounced the detrimental impact of the embargo on the country and the entire SADC region.

Senior Government officials and ordinary Zimbabweans have also appended their petition signatures against sanctions. Since 2019, the SADC bloc, in solidarity with Zimbabwe set 25 October as the day for collective regional campaign to demand for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.

In an interview, newly-elected ZNLWVA leader, Cde Cephas Ncube, said every Zimbabwean must condemn the detrimental impact of sanctions, which extend to the whole of southern Africa.

He said sanctions have hindered Zimbabwe’s ability to achieve sustainable development as they inflicted a strain on the economy, causing unnecessary suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.

“We are all equal and these sanctions do not affect any singular organisation or individual but the entire country and now the effects have cascaded into the SADC region,” said Cde Ncube.

As an independent country, he said Zimbabwe should not be bullied or governed by external forces who want to benefit from the country’s natural resources.

“Sanctions are not the solution. We are independent just like many of these countries. We are facing these sanctions because of the stance we took as a country to reclaim what is rightfully ours, which is our land,” he said. “We are enjoying the fruits of our land, which are our minerals that they are targeting and that is the reason for the imposition of the sanctions,” Cde Ncube said.

He commended SADC and the African Union for backing Zimbabwe in denouncing sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, particularly in light of the current global food and energy crises.

Cde Ncube said despite the sanctions, Zimbabwe has proved more resilient and is holding fort as it continues to strive for the betterment of the country.

He said the Anti-Sanctions Day serves as a platform for regional leaders and citizens to advocate for the removal of the restrictions, highlighting their adverse effects on essential sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.

“It is surprising how we are being bullied because of what we have. We have never bullied any country because of their resources. Instead we should forge partnerships and alliances to develop our countries,” said Cde Ncube

This year’s Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations were held under the theme: “Embracing Innovation Towards Vision 2030: The Relentless Fight against Illegal Sanctions.”

The SADC Anti-Sanctions Day is observed annually on October 25 and this year’s programme coincided with the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference, which ended in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Zimbabwe has been under illegal economic sanctions for more than two decades, after Britain and its Western allies imposed the embargo in reaction to the Land Reform Programme, which was aimed at correcting historical land imbalances.

The white minority owned vast tracts of land, while the black majority was relegated to arid settlements. African leaders recently took advantage of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York to reiterate calls for the removal of the illegal embargo imposed on Zimbabwe.