Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – The call for the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the U.S. and its Western allies two decades ago is gaining momentum, bolstered by solidarity from both domestic and international communities.
These sanctions were imposed in response to the government’s decision to compulsorily acquire vast tracts of prime agricultural land from a small number of white commercial farmers to resettle hundreds of thousands of landless black families.
The West reacted harshly to the agrarian reforms by imposing illegal economic sanctions, which have cost Zimbabwe over US$90 billion in economic damages over the years. While the countries responsible for these sanctions claim that the restrictions target specific individuals within the ruling party, this narrative has been rejected by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other progressive organisations.
In an interview on the side-lines of the launch of the digitally enabled National Anti-Sanctions Petition programme by President Emmerson Mnangagwa held in conjunction with the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day on October 25, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding expressed strong support for the Zimbabwean government’s efforts to lift the sanctions.
Ambassador Ding highlighted that China’s support for Zimbabwe dates back to the country’s liberation struggle in the late 1970s and has continued through its post-independence economic development. “We oppose all forms of sanctions against any country.
China strongly supports Zimbabwe’s efforts to remove the illegal sanctions imposed on its government and its people,” he stated.
He pointed out that in 2008, China, alongside Russia, vetoed a draft resolution for sanctions against Zimbabwe and has since increased its investments in the country. “China has supported Zimbabwe in overcoming the destructive effects of these illegal sanctions by boosting investment since 2000. We helped Zimbabwe survive the most difficult times,” Ding added. The Ambassador called on the international community to help expedite the removal of the measures.
“We urge the international community to assist in lifting these illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe as soon as possible,” he said.
Egyptian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Salwa Mowafi also weighed in, emphasizing that all African nations stand united in their support for Zimbabwe’s call for sanctions removal.
“All African countries have a solid position supporting Zimbabwe against sanctions and also in the post-sanctions era. We hope Zimbabwe can emerge from these sanctions quickly, allowing it to re-engage with the international community and continue its development journey,” she said.
United State of America (USA) based leader of December 12 Movement Omowale Clay, highlighted the human rights abuses associated with sanctions. “The biggest abuse of human rights is the imposition of sanctions upon a nation,” he said.
His organization has been actively calling for the removal of sanctions for years.. Clay pointed out that sanctions have severely impacted the quality of education, access to water and electricity, and employment opportunities in Zimbabwe.
“Sanctions are decimating the quality of life for the people. They are an attack on the Zimbabwean people and an attempt to destroy what they have built through revolution,” he said.
He praised Zimbabwe for reclaiming its ancestral land and emphasized that this achievement is irreversible. “The land belongs to the people. So why the sanctions from the United States? What they could not accomplish through weapons, they now seek to achieve through economic destruction,” Clay said.
New Ziana