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Golden Sibanda in Mutoko
Zimbabwe’s efforts to rebuild relationships with former Western partners and friendly nations are paying off, with the number of foreign airlines flying into the country reaching its highest level in years.
Speaking during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti Sanctions Solidarity Summit (SASS) 2023 in Mutoko on Tuesday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry permanent secretary Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa said a number of foreign airlines flying into the country had grown back to the yester-year peak of about 24.
Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Day is commemorated on October 25th every year to raise awareness of the negative impact of Western sanctions on the economy and its citizens.
The sanctions were imposed at the turn of the millennium because Western countries opposed the country’s land reform program.
The main march to protest the sanctions was held in Harare where Vice President Constantino Chiwenga addressed the marchers afterwards. Several other marches were held across the country.
South African airline FlySafair recently launched Harare-Victoria Falls flights, joining several other airlines already servicing various lucrative routes, including Air Zimbabwe, Fastjet, Airlink, Cemair, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Eurowings Discover.
Only South African Airways, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines maintained a presence in Zimbabwe at the height of the sanctions-induced economic problems.
Dr Munyanyiwa said connectivity in and out of Zimbabwe was critical for the viability of the country’s tourism sector, which he described as a highly “perishable product and a very delicate” industry that could collapse overnight.
“We used to have, then at the height of tourism performance, in 2000 and 2001, over 24 international airlines; big airlines but because of sanctions, they stopped flying into Zimbabwe,” said Dr Munyanyiwa. “Thank God, because of re-engagement and innovation, we now have another 24 (airlines).
“The Government is making positive efforts, and Western lies have now lost value. People now know that Zimbabwe is a good country with good people, and that you can do business here.”
He added that under the sanctions onslaught, one of the strategies was to portray a bad image of the country.
This led to several countries issuing warnings to their citizens traveling to Zimbabwe, citing concerns about political instability and economic hardship.
Due to sanctions and travel warnings, Zimbabwe’s tourism industry contribution to the economy declined from 12 percent to about 3,2 percent.
“We started having different conditions for visitors coming to Zimbabwe. For example, they started introducing higher insurance,” said Dr Munyanyiwa. “We started having our agents saying, we want to pay, but Zimbabwe is red-listed, so we cannot pay money to you and cannot support your destination.
“The industry, which was very vibrant and ranked number three in the economy (in terms of GDP contribution) after mining and agriculture, collapsed overnight.”
Zimbabwe also suffered limited access to funding, depriving the country of resources needed to maintain and refurbish its tourism facilities across the country.
“If there is no money, product quality goes down,” Dr Munyanyiwa said.
Sanctions have also negatively impacted wildlife funding support, compromising the ability to manage the country’s flora and fauna, while imposing various tough terms and conditions on how to care for the wildlife and environment.
Despite the negative effects of sanctions on Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, as well as the rest of the economy, the industry is making a tremendous recovery, as evidenced by the number of foreign airlines that have started or resumed flights into the country.
Investments in the tourism sector have also grown significantly, nearing the US$1 billion mark, demonstrating that the sector is on a positive track to reclaiming its former glory, despite the damage caused by more than two decades of restrictive measures.
Dr Munyanyiwa said the sector was benefiting from efforts by Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, to engage and re-engage, to promote economic growth and investment, as demonstrated under the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business”, mantra.
This has helped improve the country’s appeal to investors and foreign visitors.
This year’s fifth edition of the anti-sanctions commemorations of the SADC’s collective stand against the embargo ran under the theme “ Harnessing The Youth for Accelerated Socio-economic Development in the Fight Against Sanctions.” At its 39th Heads of State Summit held in Tanzania in August 2019, SADC designated October 25th of every year as the day on which the region would collectively call for the removal of all illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
The United States, through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA, and the European Union imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2001 and 2002, respectively, and have renewed them annually since then.
A Presidential Executive Order was issued by the US in 2003.
It declared a “national emergence” and characterised the “actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe” as constituting an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.
This led to the designation of a number of Zimbabwean individuals and State entities and the imposition of sanctions on them and anyone who engages in commercial dealings or transactions with them.
Dr Munyanyiwa commended the support that Zimbabwe had managed to secure from friendly nations to mitigate the full impact of sanctions.
However, he said that the country’s enemies continued to erect barriers to its progress, citing the example of one major foreign airline that had expressed interest in flying to Zimbabwe but was being blocked from doing so.
Speaking at the same event, Principal Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr Charles Chishiri said that contrary to the myth peddled by the US that sanctions target only the political elite, a UN special rapporteur’s report showed that the embargo has caused suffering among ordinary people.
He said that the special rapporteur had reminded all parties of their obligations under the UN Charter to observe the principles and norms of international law, including the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, non-intervention in the domestic affairs of states, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Further, Dr Chishiri said the special rapporteur called on the United States, United Kingdom and Australia to review and lift sanctions on natural and legal persons of Zimbabwe in accordance with the principles and norms of international law and human rights law.
On November 14, 2022, the United Nations endorsed the findings and recommendations in the special rapporteur’s report.
“It is hoped that this endorsement by the UN will lead to a positive outcome and relief for Zimbabwe, from more than 23 years of sanctions,” he said.
Sanctions have had a negative impact on Zimbabwe due to, among others, suspension of bilateral payment support, suspension of direct bilateral development cooperation, interception of mineral export revenue, sanctioning of key agricultural and infrastructural development institutions, reduced access to international markets, and incapacitation of the banking sector.
Online Reporter