Harare, (New Ziana) – South Africa on Sunday reaffirmed its support to Zimbabwe in its bid to have illegal sanctions imposed on it by the West two decades lifted.

The country was sanctioned after the government compulsorily acquired excess farmland from white farmers, who owned the bulk of Zimbabwe’s prime agricultural land, to resettle the majority landless blacks.

Over the two decades, the sanctions have crippled the country’s economy, costng it an estimated US$100 billion.

After assuming office in 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa sought to open a new page in Zimbabwe’s relations with the West, including a review of the sanctions.

But the West has not reciprocated, and instead maintained the illegal sanctions.

This prompted the Southern African Development Community last year to devote October 25 each year as a day the regional group will collectively press for the removal of the sanctions.

In a statement, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said the country firmly stood behind Zimbabwe’s calls for the unconditional lifting of the sanctions.

“Today, October 25, marks the day in which the Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) united in their resolve in calling for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe,” he said.

“In this regard, the South African Government reaffirms its support to the SADC Summit’s decision to call for the unconditional and immediate removal of sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe.”
New Ziana