Chronicle Editor
Lincoln Towindo and Tanyaradzwa Rusike, Harare Bureau
THE Government is considering dispatching legislators to the United States Congress to lobby their counterparts on Capitol Hill to repeal the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act (Zdera), opening up a new front in the country’s two decade-long campaign for removal of the coercive measures, our Harare Bureau has learnt.
Zdera, enacted in 2001 by the US Congress and signed into law by then-president George W Bush, has been the cornerstone of Washington’s illegal sanctions, which have stymied economic growth and foreign investment.
Separately, another delegation, led by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, is scheduled to attend a high-level United Nations conference in Geneva, Switzerland, next month, where the impact of sanctions on Zimbabwe are set to come under the spotlight.
The conference — organised by UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights and the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations — will look at how over-compliance with sanctions has harmed human rights in sanctioned countries such as Zimbabwe.
The conference will also discuss how sanctions are impacting delivery of essential goods and services in affected countries.
The two key events will mark a renewed intensification of Zimbabwe’s multi-pronged push for the removal of sanctions, with the SADC region having commemorated the fifth anniversary of the regional Anti-Sanctions Day on Friday.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Minister Ziyambi said a high-level parliamentary delegation will soon travel to Washington to lobby US legislators for the repeal of Zdera.
“I know that Parliament has initiated a motion where they want to send a delegation to the US Congress to engage them on the harmful effects of the unilateral coercive measures,” said Minister Ziyambi.
“That’s another avenue where Parliament is trying to also put pressure through the Legislature and speak to their counterparts in the US Congress.”
The Government, he said, has been proactive in engaging Washington on the effects of the illegal embargo.
“Our Foreign Affairs ministry has been very proactive in engaging the American government, discussing with them the effects of sanctions.
“We hope this dialogue will continue between them and our Ambassador in Washington as well as our Foreign Affairs ministry here in Harare.”
In a separate interview, Zanu-PF Chief Whip in Parliament Cde Pupurai Togarepi said a motion to send a parliamentary delegation to Washington had received broad support from all political parties.
“A motion was adopted in Parliament with commendation and backing from all political parties. We believe the sanctions are unjustified and are hurting our people,” said Cde Togarepi.
He said the purpose of the visit was to communicate the real impact of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“We plan to meet officials at the UN and US Congress to express how these sanctions are affecting our citizens and to advocate for their removal,” he said.
Parliament, he said, had submitted the proposal to the ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as well as Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for approval, after which the delegation will proceed.
“We are people’s representatives and it is our duty to represent our people because we have seen they are struggling because of these illegal sanctions,” he said.
“A debate was conducted in Parliament and we came up with a resolution to send a delegation on behalf of our people.”
He also indicated that there were plans to rope in representatives from the Pan-African Parliament in similar lobbying efforts.
Geneva conference
Minister Ziyambi said the Geneva conference will afford Zimbabwe a platform to advocate for the removal of sanctions as a policy tool.
“Zimbabwe will attend the meeting and add its voice against these unjust measures,” he said.
“Actually, it’s an event that speaks to the evil of imposing unilateral coercive measures.
“It seeks to address the broader issue of unilateral coercive measures and their ineffectiveness as a tool of statecraft.
“And Zimbabwe, being one of the countries that have been affected, has been invited.
“Generally, what the Special Rapporteur is saying is that in modern statecraft, there is no need to impose sanctions because they do not produce the intended effect; rather, the people that suffer most as a result are ordinary people.
“This is the message we are getting from the conveners, who are saying we support Zimbabwe’s position, we do not believe that in this day and era there is need to impose those sanctions on any state because they do not produce the intended effect.”
Sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have led to reduced investment, limited job opportunities and slow economic growth.
The new diplomatic push comes on the heels of the fifth Anti-Sanctions Day observed by SADC countries on October 25.
Every year, SADC member states have used the day to voice their opposition to the sanctions and express solidarity with Zimbabwe.
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