Anti-sanctions holiday: exams to go ahead

Harare(New Ziana)-Ordinary and Advanced level examinations scheduled for this Friday, a public holiday the government declared to enable citizens to participate in activities to denounce sanctions that Western countries imposed on Zimbabwe, will be written as planned, a cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.

The government declared 25 October 2019 a public holiday to mark Southern African Development Community (SADC) solidarity day against illegal Western sanctions on Zimbabwe.

SADC, of which Zimbabwe is a member, declared October 25 as a day of solidarity with the country over illegal sanctions that the United States and the European Union imposed two decades ago following differences over agrarian reforms which the government implemented to correct a colonial legacy.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Prof Paul Mavima told journalists that public examinations would not be disrupted by the public holiday.

“When the government declared Friday 25th October 2019 a public holiday to mark SADC solidarity day against illegal Western sanctions on Zimbabwe, it was aware that the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level public examinations were in progress.

“In this regard, the examinations scheduled for 25th October 2019 shall be written as per timetable,” he said.

Prof Mavima added: “School heads, principals, invigilators and all those involved in running the examinations should ensure that all candidates report to their respective examination centres as per their timetables. All stakeholders are advised accordingly.”

At its annual meeting in Tanzania in August this year SADC agreed to collectively lobby for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and designated October 25 a day for anti-sanctions campaigns in each country.

Various activities will be held across SADC on the day to call for the lifting of the embargo which has cost the country an estimated US$100 billion.

At home, marches are expected to be held in cities and towns across the country with the main event penciled for the National Sports Stadium as Zimbabweans join the rest of SADC in demanding the removal of sanctions that have affected virtually every facet of life, especially the economy.

In imposing the sanctions, the EU and the US had expected the resultant economic pain would force the country to abandon its land reforms as well as bring about regime change through causing disaffection towards the government among the citizens.

New Ziana