malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
ZIMBABWE is set to escalate its call for the removal of sanctions at a high-level United Nations meeting scheduled for Geneva, Switzerland, where the country will present a strong case for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the illegal embargo.
The International Conference on Sanctions, Business and Human Rights, set for November 21-22, will be hosted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Professor Alena Douhan.
It will bring together global leaders and experts to address how sanctions affect UN member states and discuss the development of guiding principles on embargoes, business and human rights.
The United States imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA), which was enacted by the US Congress in 2001 and signed into law by then-President George W. Bush.
The law has been the central pillar of Washington’s economic restrictions on Zimbabwe that have stifled foreign investment and economic growth, impacting the provision of essential services to citizens.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who will lead the Zimbabwean delegation, said: “The International Conference on Sanctions, Business and Human Rights provides a global forum to discuss the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the human rights of those not intended to be targeted. While the sanctions are often labelled as ‘targeted’, their effects have rippled through Zimbabwe’s financial sector and impacted everyday transactions, such as purchasing essential goods and medicines.”
He said every transaction from Zimbabwe is scrutinised, simply because the country is under sanctions, resulting in shortages and suffering of the general population — not just the intended targets.
“As a result, critical infrastructure, medicines and education have suffered.
“Where Zimbabwe might otherwise have developed schools or built essential infrastructure, the constraints imposed by sanctions have held back progress and worsened daily life for ordinary citizens.”
Prof Douhan, the conference’s keynote speaker, undertook a fact-finding mission on Zimbabwe in 2021 and found that sanctions had severely impacted ordinary citizens more than the supposedly targeted individuals and entities.
“Her extensive research has highlighted that sanctions often deny fundamental rights to the general public, rather than affecting only the political elite,” Minister Ziyambi added.
“The conference will bring together representatives from multiple countries to share experiences and advocate an approach to international relations that respects human rights.
“Professor Douhan argues for a shift in how business and international relations are conducted, suggesting that a human rights-based approach should replace punitive measures against states.”
Minister Ziyambi also criticised the use of sanctions as a political tool, citing their historical ineffectiveness in effecting regime change.
“Historically, sanctions have shown that they cannot be a vehicle to achieve regime change. Examples like Cuba show that sanctions rarely shift political leadership,” he added.
“Instead, they violate basic rights outlined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including access to food, potable water and health.
“These sanctions are often intended to pressure citizens into calling for regime change, but nations tend to find ways to safeguard their sovereignty and endure these pressures.”
Online Reporter